Dart game apparatus and dart game system

ABSTRACT

Disclosed are a dart game apparatus and a dart game system according to exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure. The dart game system includes: a dart game apparatus; and a dart game assistant apparatus which is positioned outside the dart game apparatus and communicates with the dart game apparatus, in which the dart game apparatus includes a dart target having a sensing unit sensing a hit of a thrown dart pin and receiving the dart pin, a body structure including a display area formed to surround an exterior of the dart target and receiving an image projected from an image projector positioned outside the dart target apparatus and outputting the received image to be viewed by a user or outputting the image generated in the display area to be viewed by the user, and a controller controlling operations of the dart game apparatus, in which the dart game assistant apparatus includes a user interface unit outputting information related to execution of a dart game and receiving an input from the user.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a dart game apparatus, and moreparticularly, to a dart game system for enhancing a user's entertainmentelement.

BACKGROUND ART

In general, a dart refers to a ‘small arrow’ and is a game that makesmarks by throwing an arrow-shaped dart to a centrifugal target markedwith figures. The dart game has an advantage in that anybody can enjoythe dart game anytime and anywhere if there are only an arrow-headeddart and the dart target. In recent years, as various game methods havebeen developed and scoring methods have been organized, the dart gamehas been developed as worldwide leisure, and therefore, men and women ofall ages have conveniently enjoyed the dart game.

It is inconvenient for to use a dart game apparatus and a dart gamesystem in the related art and there are a lot of deficiencies in raisinginterest of users.

Accordingly, research into the dart game apparatus and the dart gamesystem is continued.

As prior documents, Korean Patent KR1032367 discloses a structure forthe dart game apparatus and Korean Patent KR1032368 discloses a dartgame apparatus equipped with a photographing device.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present disclosure has been made in an effort to provide anew-concept dart game apparatus.

An exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure provides a dart gamesystem. The dart game system includes: a dart game apparatus; and a dartgame assistant apparatus which is positioned outside the dart gameapparatus and communicates with the dart game apparatus, in which thedart game apparatus includes a dart target having a sensing unit sensinga hit of a thrown dart pin and receiving the dart pin, a body structureincluding a display area formed to surround an exterior of the darttarget and receiving an image projected from an image projectorpositioned outside the dart target apparatus and outputting the receivedimage to be viewed by a user or outputting the image generated in thedisplay area to be viewed by the user, and a controller controllingoperations of the dart game apparatus, in which the dart game assistantapparatus includes a user interface unit outputting information relatedto execution of a dart game and receiving an input from the user.

The dart game assistant apparatus may further include an audio outputunit outputting audio information related with the execution of the dartgame, a user recognition unit receiving identification information ofthe user from a user device or from the user, and a storage unit storinga bill or a coin for performing the dart game.

The display area of the body structure may have a shape in which adistance from a virtual surface extending from a throw line upwarddecreases from a center to a distal portion.

The dart game assistant apparatus may further include an image projectorprojecting the image in at least one direction of a dart targetdirection and a display area direction of the dart target.

The dart game system may further include a dart plate connected with thedart game apparatus and extending along a ground in an oppositedirection to the dart target.

The controller may determine whether the user intends to throw the dartpin depending on whether to touch a touch unit disposed in a part of thedart plate.

The dart plate may further include a throw-line illumination unit fordisplaying the throw line which is a reference line for throwing thedart pin by the user, and a dart plate side illumination unit formedalong at least one side and displaying a boundary line of the dartplate.

The touch unit configured by a conductive pressure sensing member may beformed adjacent to at least a part of the throw-line illumination unitof the dart plate, and the controller may determine whether the userintends to throw the dart pin depending on whether to touch the touchunit disposed on a part of the dart plate.

A dart plate input unit for receiving an input related to the executionof the dart game from the user may be formed on at least a part of thedart plate, and the controller may control the operations of the dartgame based on the input from the dart plate input unit.

Further, the controller may adjust information which may be input by theuser interface unit partially based on at least one of theidentification information of the user and pre-stored user designationinformation.

The controller may adjust information which may be input by the dartplate input unit partially based on at least one of the identificationinformation of the user and the pre-stored user designation information.

The dart plate input unit may include a plurality of input areasincluding a leftward input area, a rightward input area, an upward inputarea, a downward input area, a selection input area, and a cancellationinput area.

The dart plate input unit in the dart plate may be formed at a locationcloser to the dart target than the throw-line illumination unit in thedart plate.

The dart plate input unit may be configured by the conductive pressuresensing member, and when the user applies force to at least a part ofthe dart plate input unit, resistance of the conductive pressure sensingmember may be changed.

The conductive pressure sensing member may be configured by at least oneof a pressure sensing conductive film and a pressure sensing conductivecloth.

The dart game assistant apparatus may be connected with the dart gameapparatus and fixedly disposed on the ground while being spaced apartfrom the dart plate extending along the ground in the opposite directionto the dart target by a predetermined distance.

The dart game assistant apparatus may be fixedly disposed on the groundwhile being spaced apart from the dart game apparatus in the oppositedirection to the dart target by the predetermined distance, and the dartgame system may further include a side cover extending from at least oneside of the dart game apparatus in the opposite direction to the darttarget.

The user interface unit may be positioned on at least a part of an uppersurface of the dart game assistant apparatus, and a holding unit havinga shape to receive an object of the user may be formed on the other partof the upper surface of the dart game assistant apparatus.

The dart game assistant apparatus may further include a support membersupporting at least one area of an area on the upper surface of the dartgame assistant apparatus where the interface unit is positioned and anarea where the holding unit is positioned from the ground, and an audiooutput unit installed at a part of the support member toward theoutside.

The dart game assistant apparatus may further include an external cameraunit for photographing whether the user throws the dart pin over thethrow line.

According to exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure, anew-concept dart game apparatus is provided to enhance interest of dartgame users, improve convenience of the dart game users, and allowvarious persons to enjoy a dart game.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Various aspects are now described with reference to the drawings andlike reference numerals are generally used to designate like elements.In the following exemplary embodiments, for a description purpose,multiple specific detailed matters are presented to provide generalunderstanding of one or more aspects. However, it will be apparent thatthe aspect(s) can be executed without the detailed matters. In otherexamples, known structures and apparatuses are illustrated in a blockdiagram form in order to facilitate description of the one or moreaspects.

FIG. 1 is a diagram for describing components of a dart game systemaccording to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a diagram for describing the dart game system according to theexemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 3 is a diagram for describing the dart game apparatus equipped witha display unit according to the exemplary embodiment of the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 4 is a diagram for describing a controller according to theexemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 5 is a diagram for describing a method for determining an eventeffect according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 6 is a diagram for describing a method for determining an eventeffect according to another exemplary embodiment of the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 7 is a diagram for describing a method for displaying a variablescreen surrounding a dart target in a display area according to theexemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 8 is a diagram for describing a method for displaying a variablescreen to be adjacent to the dart target according to the exemplaryembodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 9 is a diagram for describing a method for determining an eventeffect according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 10 is a diagram for describing display units according to theexemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 11 is a diagram for describing a positional relationship betweenthe display unit and the dart target according to an exemplaryembodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 12 is a diagram for describing a positional relationship between acover unit and the dart target according to another exemplary embodimentof the present disclosure.

FIG. 13 is a diagram for describing a method in which the display unitoperates according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 14 is a diagram for describing a method in which the display unitoperates according to another exemplary embodiment of the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 15 is a diagram for describing a dart game system including animage projector according to an exemplary embodiment of the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 16 is a diagram for describing a dart game apparatus including animage projector according to an exemplary embodiment of the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 17 is a diagram for describing a dart game apparatus including animage projector according to another exemplary embodiment of the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 18 is a diagram for describing a dart plate input unit according toan exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 19 is a diagram for describing that a controller 110 provides adart game match-up mode which a plurality of players including a virtualplayer and at least one real player perform according to anotherexemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 20 is a diagram for describing a method in which a controllercreates a lesson image according to another exemplary embodiment of thepresent disclosure.

FIG. 21 is a diagram for describing a method for measuring foot pressureaccording to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 22 is a diagram for describing a method for measuring detailed footpressure according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 23 is a diagram for describing a dart target according to anexemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 24 is a conceptual view of a game network including the dart gameapparatus according to the exemplary embodiment of the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 25 is a diagram for describing a dart booth according to theexemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 26 is a diagram for describing another event effect which may beoutput from the dart game apparatus according to the exemplaryembodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 27 is a diagram for describing a location of a target illuminationunit according to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Various exemplary embodiments will now be described with reference todrawings and like reference numerals are used to refer to like elementsthroughout all drawings. In the specification, various descriptions arepresented to provide appreciation of the present disclosure. However, itis apparent that the embodiments can be executed without the specificdescription. In other examples, known structures and apparatuses arepresented in a block diagram form in order to facilitate description ofthe embodiments.

Various exemplary embodiments will now be described with reference todrawings. In the following description, for the purpose of adescription, multiple detailed matters will be disclosed in order tohelp comprehensive appreciation of one or more exemplary embodiments.However, those skilled in the art will recognize even that the exemplaryembodiment(s) can be executed without the detailed matters. In thefollowing disclosure and the accompanying drawings, specific exemplaryembodiments of one or more exemplary embodiments will be described indetail. However, the exemplary embodiments are exemplary and some ofvarious methods in principles of various exemplary embodiments may beused and the descriptions are intended to include all of the exemplaryembodiments and equivalents thereof.

Various exemplary embodiments and features will be presented by a systemwhich may include multiple devices, components, and/or modules. Itshould also be appreciated and recognized that various systems mayinclude additional apparatuses, components, and/or modules and/or thatthe various systems may not include all of apparatuses, components,modules, and the like discussed in association with the drawings.

In “exemplary embodiment”, “example”, “illustration”, and the like usedin the specification, it may not be construed that a predeterminedembodiment or design which is described is more excellent oradvantageous than other exemplary embodiments or designs. ‘Component’,‘module’, ‘system’, ‘interface’, and the like which are terms used belowgenerally mean computer-related entities and mean, for example,hardware, a combination of the hardware and software, and the software.

The term “or” is intended to mean not exclusive “or” but inclusive “or”That is, when not separately specified or not clear in terms of acontext, a sentence “X uses A or B” is intended to mean one of thenatural inclusive substitutions. That is, the sentence “X uses A or B”may be applied to all of the case where X uses A, the case where X usesB, and the case where X uses both A and B. Further, it should beunderstood that the term “and/or” used in the specification designatesand includes all available combinations of one or more items amongenumerated related items.

The term “comprises” and/or “comprising” means that the correspondingfeature and/or component is present, but it should be appreciated thatpresence or addition of one or more other features, components, and/or agroup thereof is not excluded. Further, when not separately specified ornot clear in terms of the context that a singular form is indicated, itshould be construed that a singular form generally means “one or more”in the present specification and the claims.

In the specification, the term “adjacent” may include two objectscontacting each other. Further, the term “adjacent” does not include acase where two objects do not contact each other, but may include a casewhere two objects are close to each other and is not limited thereto.

The description of the presented exemplary embodiments is provided sothat those skilled in the art of the present disclosure use or implementthe present disclosure. Various modifications of the exemplaryembodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art and generalprinciples defined herein can be applied to other exemplary embodimentswithout departing from the scope of the present disclosure. Therefore,the present disclosure is not limited to the exemplary embodimentspresented herein, but should be analyzed within the widest range whichis coherent with the principles and new features presented herein.

Throughout the specification, a variable screen may mean a changeableimage. For example, the variable screen may include a motion picture anda still image. Alternatively, the variable screen may include a screenthat changes from a first screen to a second screen, but is not limitedthereto.

For example, the variable screen may include at least one of an imageacquired by photographing a dart game operation of a dart game player,an image acquired by photographing a dart target, a background image, animage received from another dart game device, an image received from anexternal device, an information image regarding a dart game which iscurrently progressed, an information image acquired based on a currentdart hit location, an event effect image of the dart game, an imageshowing a score of the dart target, and a lesson image for the dartgame, but is not limited thereto.

Throughout the specification, the background image means an image outputas a background of at least one other variable screen. For example, in adisplay area 315, another variable screen may be displayed together withthe background image.

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments according to the present disclosurewill be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a diagram for describing components of a dart game systemaccording to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

According to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, thedart game system 10000 may include a dart game apparatus 1000, a dartbooth 2000, and a dart game assistant apparatus 3000.

The dart game apparatus 1000 may include at least one of a display unit120, an image projector 124, a cover unit 130, a camera unit 140, anetwork module 150, a sensing unit 160, a user input unit 170, anillumination unit 180, a controller 110, a dart target 200, and a bodystructure 300, but is not limited thereto.

According to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, thedart game apparatus 1000 may further include a memory (not illustrated).

The memory (not illustrated) may store a program for a motion of thecontroller 110 therein and temporarily store input/output data (e.g., aphone book, a message, a still image, a moving picture, or the like)therein. The memory (not illustrated) may store data regarding variouspatterns of vibrations and sounds output in the touch input on the touchscreen.

The memory (not illustrated) may include at least one type of storagemedium of a flash memory type storage medium, a hard disk type storagemedium, a multimedia card micro type storage medium, a card type memory(for example, an SD or XD memory, or the like), a random access memory(RAM), a static random access memory (SRAM), a read-only memory (ROM),an electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), aprogrammable read-only memory (PROM), a magnetic memory, a magneticdisk, and an optical disk. The dart game apparatus 100 may operate inconnection with a web storage performing a storing function of thememory (not illustrated) on the Internet.

The controller 110 generally controls all motions of the dart gameapparatus 100. For example, in the case of a dart game, the score sensedthrough the sensing unit 160 is aggregated for each game participant,and the aggregated score is transmitted to and received from anotherdart game apparatus connected through a network, and a gamewinning/losing record, the score, and the like depending on theaggregation result are recorded.

The controller 110 determines whether a throwing operation of a dartgame user corresponds to an illegal act based on the image photographedby the camera unit 140, and when it is determined that the throwingoperation corresponds to the illegal act, the controller 110 may allowan image showing that the throwing operation of the user corresponds tothe illegal act to be output to the display area 315. For example, thecontroller 110 may control the display unit 120 to output an imageindicating that the throwing operation of the user corresponds to theillegal act and control at least one of the image projector 124 and animage projection unit 3700 so as to allow at least one of the imageprojector 124 and the image projection unit 3700 to project the imageindicating that the throwing operation of the user corresponds to theillegal act to the display area 315. According to another exemplaryembodiment, the controller 110 may control at least one of the imageprojector 124 and the image projection unit 3700 so that at least one ofthe image projector 124 and the image projection unit 3700 projects theimage indicating that the throwing operation of the user corresponds tothe illegal act to a dart plate 2100.

The body structure 300 may include a body 310 provided in a verticaldirection to a ground and supporting the dart game apparatus 1000, acover 320 which extends in an opposite direction to a dart target froman upper end of the body 310 or a screen area, and a lower support 330which extends in a throw line direction along the ground from an endcontacting the body 310 or the ground of the screen area. The bodystructure 300 may further include a body structure illumination unit(not illustrated) disposed along at least one side of the body structureand having a line emission or plane emission type for displaying thebody structure or a boundary of the screen area.

According to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, ascreen area 315 may be formed on a front surface of the body 310. Thedisplay area 315 means an area that may be formed to surround an outlineof the dart target 200 to output the variable screen at a positionadjacent to at least a part of the dart target 200.

According to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, thedisplay area 315 may be implemented by the display unit 120. Forexample, the display area 315 may include the display unit 120, and thedisplay unit 120 may output the variable screen. In addition, thedisplay area 315 may output the variable screen by accepting the imageprojected by the image projector 124.

According to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, thedisplay area 315 may occupy the periphery of the dart target 200. Forexample, the display area 315 may be formed so as to output the variablescreen in an area adjacent to the outline of the dart target 200.

In one aspect, when the display area 315 is configured to include thedisplay unit 120, the display unit 120 may be positioned on the bottomof the dart target 200. For example, when the display unit 120 isconstituted by a display panel (an LCD panel, an LED panel, a PDP panel,or the like), the dart target 200 may be positioned on the front surface(a direction close to the throw line) of the display panel. In anotherexemplary embodiment, a receiving groove may be formed in the displaypanel, and the dart target 200 may be seated and placed in the receivinggroove.

In another aspect, when the display area 315 is configured to includethe image projector 125, the image projector 125 may be disposed toproject the image to the periphery of the dart target 200. The displayarea 315 may be configured in a screen form in order to enhance a visualappearance of the image projected from the image projector 125.Specifically, the display area 315 may be formed by a plane or a curvedsurface colored with a color with high reflectivity.

The structure of the display area 315 described above is exemplary andthe display area 315 according to the exemplary embodiment of thepresent disclosure is not constituted by any one component of thedisplay unit 120 and the image projector 125. For example, the displayarea 315 may be configured by a combination of the display unit 120 andthe image projector 125. For example, the display area positioned at theperiphery of the dart target 200 may be constituted by the display unit120 and the other part may be constituted by the screen to which theimage is projected by the image projector 125 and vice versa.

In the dart game apparatus 1000 according to the exemplary embodiment ofthe present disclosure, the display area 315 may be formed over most ofa front portion of the dart game apparatus 1000. As illustrated in FIGS.2 and 3, or additional accompanying drawings, the front portion of thedart game apparatus 1000 may be constituted by the display area 315except for a portion where the dart target 200 is exposed. The frontportion of the dart game apparatus 1000 may mean a shape that isvisually exposed when a user looks at the dart game apparatus 1000beyond a throw line.

By configuring most of the front portion of the dart game apparatus 1000as the display area 315, it is possible to express a visual effect thatis differentiated from the dart game apparatus in the related art.

In another exemplary embodiment, the area corresponding to the peripheryof the dart target 200 in the front portion of the dart game apparatus1000 may be at least configured by the display area 315. Due tocharacteristics of the dart game, main plays in the game take placemainly on the dart target 200 and visual concentration of the player isrelatively high in the dart target 200 and the periphery of the darttarget 200. By configuring the periphery of the dart target 200 by thedisplay area 315 capable of outputting the variable screen, variousvisual effects are output to an area where the visual concentration ofthe user is high to enhance satisfaction or immersion of the user. Thedart target 200 may include a score board in which a bullseye ispositioned at the center and there are areas segmented by a concentriccircle centering the bullseye and straight lines extended radially fromthe bullseye and granted with individual scores, respectively. Multiplereceiving grooves into which a tip of a dart may be inserted may beformed on the score board. In this case, shapes of areas at which thescores are arranged and to which the scores are granted in the darttarget 200 may be variably changed. Further, the dart target 200 may beimplemented in the form of a touch screen.

The sensing unit 160 may sense the play of a dart game player (e.g., areal player) performed with respect to the dart target 200. For example,the sensing unit 160 may sense the hit location of the dart pin. Thesensing unit 160 may electrically convert a score corresponding to thearea which the dart hits to transmit the converted score to thecontroller 110. The sensing unit 160 may transmit information on thearea where the dart hits to the controller 110 and the controller 110may acquire the score based on the information on the hit location ofthe dart acquired from the sensing unit 160. In an additional exemplaryembodiment, the sensing unit 160 may include piezoelectric elements. Thepiezoelectric elements may mean any type of element that generates anelectrical signal in response to a change or change rate of pressureapplied to the element. When the dart pin 200 hits the dart target 200,the electrical signal may be generated by the piezoelectric element inaccordance with the pressure applied to the corresponding segment. Atleast partially based on the electrical signal, the controller 110 maydetermine a speed of the dart pin.

For example, the dart pin is thrown and flies, and reaches the darttarget and stops. When the dart pin is completely stopped and there isno change in the shape of the piezoelectric element due to the dart pin,the electrical signal of the piezoelectric element also disappears.Therefore, an interval between the time when voltage starts to begenerated by the piezoelectric element and the time when the generationof the electrical signal by the piezoelectric element disappears may bemeasured. When the measured time and acceleration are known, a throwingspeed of the dart pin may be calculated.

When the dart target retreats by the dart pin and the dart targetretreats to its original position, the voltage in an opposite directionto the retreating of the dart target at the piezoelectric element isgenerated. Therefore, the interval between the time when the voltagestarts to be generated by the piezoelectric element and the time whenthe voltage by the piezoelectric element starts to be in the oppositedirection to the time when the dart target retreats may be measured.When the measured time and acceleration are known, the throwing speed ofthe dart pin may be calculated.

The user input unit 170 receives an input of the user for controllingthe dart game apparatus 1000. The user input unit 170 may be implementedby at least one of a keypad, a dome switch, a touch pad(resistive/capacitive), a jog wheel, and a jog switch and is not limitedthereto.

The user input unit 170 may include a short-range communication unit(not illustrated). When the user input unit 170 includes the short-rangecommunication unit of the network module 150, the user input unit 170may be configured to receive the user input which is input by anexternal console device. As short range communication technology,Bluetooth, radio frequency identification (RFID), infrared dataassociation (IrDA), ultra wideband (UWB), ZigBee, or the like may beused.

For example, when the user input unit 170 performs the short rangecommunication using infrared communication, the external console devicemay be an infrared remote controller. Alternatively, when the user inputunit 170 performs the short range communication using a Bluetoothfunction, the external console device may be a mobile device including aBluetooth module. The mobile device including the Bluetooth module maybe, for example, a smart phone including the Bluetooth module.

In an additional exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, theuser input unit 170 may receive information from the dart pin. Forexample, the dart game apparatus 10000 may receive information includedin a dart pin identification module such as an NFC chip or an RFID chipembedded in the dart pin through the user input unit 170. As an example,the information of the dart pin may include mass information, weightinformation, manufacturer information, length information, shapeinformation, and/or predetermined identification information foridentifying the dart pin. Further, according to another exemplaryembodiment of the present disclosure, the dart game apparatus 1000 maynot include the user input unit 170. In addition, according to anotherexemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the operations andfunctions of the user input unit 170 of the dart game apparatus 10000may be performed by being substituted or combined with at least one of auser interface unit 3100, a user recognition unit 3300, and/or a storageunit 3400 of the dart game assistant apparatus 3000.

A sound output unit 190 may output audio data received from the networkmodule 150 or stored in the memory 180 in a sound effect of the game, agame motion guide, a game method description, and the like. The soundoutput unit 190 may also output a sound signal related with a function(e.g., the game sound effect) performed by the dart game apparatus 1000.The sound output unit 190 may also output a speech of a game player or athird person using another dart game apparatus, which is receivedthrough the network module 150. The sound output unit 190 may include areceiver, a speaker, a buzzer, and the like. Additionally, the soundoutput unit 190 may vary and output a volume/a type of music accordingto the location where the dart pin reaches the dart target.Additionally, the sound output unit 190 may vary and output thevolume/the type of music so as to correspond to the speed of the dartpin.

The display unit 120 displays (outputs) information processed in thedart game apparatus 1000. For example, when the dart game apparatus 1000is in a game play method guidance mode, the display unit 120 may outputa selectable game play method. When the dart game apparatus 1000 isplaying a game, the display unit 120 may output an image acquired byphotographing the game player or a third person using another dart gameapparatus received through the network module 150.

The display unit 120 may display a dart game image. According to theexemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the dart game image mayinclude a dart game play image of a real person, a dart game playanimation image of a character of the real person, a dart game playanimation image of a virtual character, and an image displaying an imagein which the dart pin hits the dart target for each team.

The display unit 120 may be implemented by at least one of a liquidcrystal display (LCD), a thin film transistor-liquid crystal display(TFT LCD), an organic light-emitting diode (OLED), a flexible display,and a 3D display and is not limited thereto.

Some displays among them may be configured as a transparent or lighttransmissive type to view the outside through the displays. This may becalled a transparent display. The transparent display may include, forexample, a transparent OLED (TOLED), and the like. In another exemplaryembodiment, the transparent display may be implemented by alternativelyarranging a transparent or light transmissive module and a displaymodule.

According to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, thedisplay unit 120 may include a touch sensor. The touch sensor may beconfigured to convert a change in pressure applied to a specific portionof the display unit 120 or capacitance generated at the specific portionof the display unit 120 into an electrical input signal. The touchsensor may be configured to detect touch pressure as well as a touchedposition and area.

When there is a touch input for the touch sensor, a signal(s)corresponding to the touch input is(are) sent to a touch controller. Thetouch controller processes the signal(s) and thereafter, transmits datacorresponding thereto to the controller 110. As a result, the controller110 may know which region of the display unit 120 is touched.

According to another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, theimage projector 124 may replace or combine the function of the displayunit 120. For example, the image projector 124 may project the variablescreen to the display area 315 and the display area 315 may receive theimage projected from the image projector 124 to output the image so asto allow the user to view the image.

For easy description of the disclosure, the present disclosure will bedescribed below based on the dart game apparatus 1000 including thedisplay unit 120. However, according to another exemplary embodiment ofthe present disclosure, the operations of the dart game apparatus 1000implemented by the display unit 120 may be implemented or partiallyreplaced by the image projector 124.

The illumination unit 180 outputs a signal for notifying occurrence ofan event of the dart game apparatus 1000. Examples of the event whichoccurs from the dart game apparatus 1000 include identification of thedart game player, hitting of the dart, a change of the dart game player,game over, and the like. The illumination unit 180 may include a lightemission diode (LED) and notify the occurrence of the event to the userby flickering the LED. Additionally, the illumination unit 180 may varyand output vary the type of light emission, the intensity of lightemission, and/or the flicker cycle depending on the position at whichthe dart pin reaches the dart target. Additionally, the sound outputunit 190 may vary and output the volume/the type of music so as tocorrespond to the speed of the dart pin.

The LEDs are disposed on the bottom of the dart target 200 to beflickered according to a flickering pattern which is pre-storedaccording to the occurrence of the event. For example, one or more LEDsmay be allocated to respective parts of the dart target 200. Theallocated LEDs are disposed on the bottom of the dart target 200 and maybe disposed in a direction orienting the outside of the dart gameapparatus 1000. When the LEDs irradiate light, the light irradiated bythe LEDs may pass through the dart target 200 made of a transparent ortranslucent material to transfer a visual output to the user.Alternatively, the light irradiated by the LEDs may transfer the visualoutput to the user through a gap existing in the dart target 200. TheLEDs may be arranged linearly along both sides of the dart gameapparatus 1000. The LEDs may extend along both sides of the dart gameapparatus 1000 and additionally extend along the side of the dart plate2000.

The camera unit 140 may include one or more cameras. An image frameprocessed by the camera unit 140 may be stored in the memory (notillustrated) or transmitted to the outside through the network module150. Two or more camera units 140 may be provided according to a useenvironment. For example, at least a part of the camera unit 140 may bedisposed on the lower support and at least another part of the cameraunit 140 may be disposed on the cover 320.

At least some cameras of the camera unit 140 may be disposed tophotograph the image frame including the dart target 200 and othercameras may be disposed to photograph the image frame directly relatedwith a game rule in the dart game play.

For example, the camera may be disposed to photograph a throw-line onwhich the dart is thrown in order to photograph the image frame directlyrelated with the dart game rule. Further, the camera may be arranged tophotograph a user that throws the dart pin. Multiple cameras included inthe camera unit 140 may be disposed to photograph at least some imageframes to overlap with each other.

When the camera unit 140 is implemented by one camera, the camera may bea panoramic camera disposed to photograph both at least a part of thedart target 200 and the image frame (e.g., the throw-line in the dartgame) directly related with the game rule.

The image photographed by the camera unit 140 may be output to thedisplay area 315 under the control of the controller 110. For example,the display unit 120 may output the image photographed by the cameraunit 140 and the image projector 124 may project the image photographedby the camera unit 140 to the display area 315.

In this case, the image photographed by the camera unit 140 may beoutput to different areas within the display area 315. For example, anarea in which the image photographed by a first camera included in thecamera unit 140 is displayed may be different from an area in which theimage photographed by a second camera included in the camera unit 140 isdisplayed. In this case, the image photographed by the first camera mayinclude the image of the dart game user. In addition, the imagephotographed by the second camera may include the image of the darttarget, but is not limited thereto.

A location at which the image photographed by the camera unit 140 isoutput may vary depending on the dart game user. For example, a locationwhere the photographed image is displayed when the camera unit 140photographs an image related to the dart game of a first user and alocation where the photographed image is displayed when an image relatedto the dart game of a second user is photographed by the camera unit 140may be different from each other.

In an additional exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, thecamera unit 140 photographs the dart pin to input information on thedart pin in the dart game apparatus 1000. For example, the camera unit140 recognizes a QR code of the dart pin and the dart game apparatus10000 may thus recognize identification information of the dart pin.

In another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, at least oneof the cameras constituting the camera unit 140 may be arranged tophotograph a part of a body of the player. In an exemplary embodiment,data regarding a part of the body of the player photographed by thecamera unit 140 may be biometric data for identification of the player.The biometric data may include fingerprint data, face recognition data,iris recognition data, and the like. In an exemplary embodiment, thebiometric data may be transmitted to the controller 110 of the dart gameapparatus 1000 and used for player identification. In another exemplaryembodiment, the biometric data may be transmitted to an external serverthat stores player identification information via the network module 150and used for player identification.

In yet another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, at leastone of the cameras constituting the camera unit 140 may be used tomeasure the throwing speed of the dart pin. For example, one camera 140photographs two or more dart pin images at a predetermined time intervalto measure a movement speed of the dart pin. As another exemplaryembodiment, the movement speed of the dart pin may be measured using theimages of the dart pins photographed by the two or more cameras 140 andpositional relationship information of the two or more cameras 140,which is preset.

The network module 150 may include one or more modules that enablewireless communication between the dart game apparatus 1000 and awired/wireless communication system or between the dart game apparatus1000 and a network on which the dart game apparatus 1000 is positioned.Further, the network module 150 may include one or more modules thatenable wireless and/or wired communication between the dart gameapparatus 1000, the dart game assistant apparatus 3000, and the dartbooths 2000.

The network module 150 may include a wired/wireless Internet module fornetwork access. As the wireless Internet technology, wireless LAN (WLAN)(Wi-Fi), wireless broadband (Wibro), world interoperability formicrowave access (Wimax), high speed downlink packet access (HSDPA), orthe like, may be used. As wired Internet technology, a digitalsubscriber line (XDSL), fibers to the home (FTTH), power linecommunication (PLC), or the like may be used.

The network module 150 includes a short-range communication unit totransmit and receive data to and from an electronic apparatus positionedin a comparatively short range from the dart game apparatus 1000 andincluding the short-range communication unit. As short rangecommunication technology, Bluetooth, radio frequency identification(RFID), infrared data association (IrDA), ultra wideband (UWB), ZigBee,or the like may be used.

The network module 150 may sense a connection state of the network and atransceiving speed of the network.

Data received through the network module 150 may be output, storedthrough the memory (not illustrated), or transmitted to other electronicapparatuses positioned in a short range through the short-rangecommunication unit.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the dartgame apparatus 1000 may provide a dart game match-up mode including atleast one player playing at a remote place via the network module 150.

The cover 130 may be provided adjacent to the display area 315 toprotect the display area 315. For example, the cover 130 may bepositioned between a virtual surface extending upward from the throwline and the display unit 120. In this case, since the cover 130 ispositioned adjacent to the display unit 120, the risk of damage to thedisplay unit 120 may be reduced.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the darttarget 200 may be seated on the cover 130. For example, an opening maybe present in the cover 130 and the dart target 200 may be seated in theopening. In another example, the cover 130 has a receiving groove, andthe dart target may be seated in the receiving groove. The cover 130 maybe configured to include two or more cover panels. In this case, theopening or receiving groove may be formed on a boundary surface of twoor more cover panels.

At least a part of the cover 130 may have optical transmittance. Forexample, a part of the cover 130 may be transparent, the other part maybe translucent, and another part may be opaque. As another example, theentirety of the cover 130 may be transparent and the entirety of thecover 130 may be opaque. A degree of transparency of the cover 130 isnot limited to the above example, but may be diversified.

According to another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, theimage may be output to at least a part of the cover 130. For example, anadvertisement image may be output to at least a part of the cover 130,but the present disclosure is not limited thereto and various images maybe output. Specifically, for example, at least a part of the cover 130may autonomously output the image. As another example, the image may beoutput to at least a part of the cover 130 by the variable screenprojected by the image projector 124 or the image projection unit 3700.In another example, the cover 130 may be coupled with a part of theillumination unit 500 to output the image or a signal. For example, atleast two LED light sources (not illustrated) may be embedded in thecover 130. Specifically, the cover 130 may include multiple LED lightsources (not illustrated) embedded in a grid shape at predeterminedintervals from each other. A flicking mode of the multiple LED lightsources (not illustrated) may be controlled by the controller 110. Aspecific pattern or letter, signal, or the like may be expressedaccording to the flickering mode of the multiple LED light sources (notillustrated). Since the multiple LED light sources (not illustrated) arearranged at the predetermined intervals, the user may detect the displayunit 120 through the intervals.

A motion measurement module 400 may obtain the speed at which the dartpin moves. For example, since the motion measurement module 400 mayinclude a microwave module (e.g., a continuous wave (CW) radar sensor),the motion measurement module 400 may obtain the speed at which the dartpin moves by using a Doppler effect in which a frequency of a wavevaries. The speed measurement module is not limited to theabove-described exemplary embodiment and may obtain the movement speedof the thrown dart pin in various methods.

In another exemplary embodiment, the motion measurement module may beconfigured to include optical sensors (e.g., infrared sensors) disposedat two or more predetermined locations. The time that the dart pinpasses through the area sensed by each optical sensor may be obtained bythe motion measurement module 400. Therefore, the controller 110 maymeasure the throwing speed of the dart pin.

The target illumination unit 500 may irradiate light toward at least onepart of the dart target 200 and the periphery of the dart target 200. Inthis case, the periphery of the dart target 200 may mean a portionadjacent to the outline of the dart target 200 on the same plane as thedart target 200.

The target illumination unit 500 may output the signal for notifying theoccurrence of the event of the dart game apparatus 1000. Examples of theevent which occurs from the dart game apparatus 1000 includeidentification of the dart game player, direct hit of the dart, a changeof the dart game player, game over, and the like. Since the targetillumination unit 500 may include a light emission diode (LED), thetarget illumination unit 500 may irradiate light toward the dart target200 or the periphery of the dart target 200 by flickering the LED.Additionally, the target illumination unit 500 may vary and output thetype of light emission, the intensity of light emission, and/or theflicker cycle depending on the location at which the dart pin reachesthe dart target.

The target illumination unit 500 may be disposed at least partially incontact with the cover 130. For example, the target illumination unit500 may be disposed on one side of the cover 130 facing the dart gameapparatus. Further, the target illumination unit 500 may be disposed onone side of the cover 130 facing the throw line. Further, the targetillumination unit 500 may be disposed on an inner surface of the holeincluded in the cover 130. In this case, the target illumination unit500 may be attached to the cover 130.

As another example, the target illumination unit 500 may be disposedbetween the cover 130 and the display area 315.

The target illumination unit 500 may determine an area to which thelight is irradiated under the control of the controller 110.

The controller 110 may determine the area where the target illuminationunit 500 irradiates the light at least partially based on the locationwhich the dart pin hits.

For example, when the dart pin reaches the dart target 200, the sensingunit 160 may obtain information on the location where the dart pinreaches the dart target 200 and the controller 110 may determine thearea to which the target illumination unit 500 irradiates the light atleast partially based on the obtained location information.

Specifically, the controller 110 may determine the area which the dartpin hits as the area where the target illumination unit 500 irradiatesthe light.

A portion adjacent to a point where a line extending from the center ofthe dart target to the location which the dart pin hits meets theoutline of the dart target may be determined as the area to which thetarget illumination unit 500 irradiates the light.

The controller 110 may determine a portion matching the location whichthe dart pin hits as the area to which the target illumination unit 500irradiates the light. For example, when the dart pin hits a specificlocation, the controller 110 may determine an area matching the hitlocation as the area to which the target illumination unit 500irradiates the light.

The controller 110 may determine a portion matching an area includingthe location which the dart pin hits as a location at which an eventeffect is to be displayed. For example, the dart target 200 may bedivided into a plurality of fan-shaped areas and the controller 110 maydivide a portion adjacent to an arc of the fan-shaped area including theportion which the dart pin hits as the area to which the targetillumination unit 500 irradiates the light.

The controller 110 may determine an area which belongs to apredetermined distance range from the location within the dart target towhich the dart pin is thrown as the area to which the targetillumination unit 500 irradiates the light.

The controller 110 may determine at least one of a pattern in which thetarget illumination unit 500 irradiates the light and duration of theirradiated light, at least partially based on the location which thedart pin hits.

For example, when the dart pin hits a predetermined location, thecontroller 110 may determine a pattern based on the location where thedart pin is determined as the pattern in which the target illuminationunit 500 irradiates the light. For example, in the case where the dartpin hits a double score area, the controller 110 may control the targetillumination unit 500 to flicker twice and/or control the targetillumination unit 500 to irradiate the light during a duration which isrelatively twice longer than the case where the dart pin hits a singlescore area. As another example, in the case where the dart pin hits atriple score area, the controller 110 may control the targetillumination unit 500 to flicker three times and/or control the targetillumination unit 500 to irradiate the light during a duration which isrelatively three times longer than the case where the dart pin hits thesingle score area.

The controller 110 may determine whether a predetermined event occursbased on dart game progress information. For example, the control unit110 can determine whether the predetermined event occurs by determiningwhether a current dart pin throwing opportunity of the dart game playeris included in the predetermined event. Specifically, for example, thecontroller 110 may determine that the predetermined event occurs whenthe current dart pin throwing opportunity of the dart game player isincluded in the predetermined event.

In this case, the predetermined event may include at least one of a dartpin throwing opportunity to determine a win or loss of the dart gameplayer and a dart pin throwing opportunity when a reversal is possibleat the time of throwing the dart pin, but is not limited thereto.

The controller 110 may determine a recommendation score area of the darttarget 200 based on information on the event which occurs and determinethe area to which the target illumination unit 500 irradiates the lightbased on the determined recommendation score area.

For example, when the occurring event is the dart pin throwingopportunity that determines the win or loss of the dart game player, thecontroller 110 may determine a score area of determining the win or lossas the recommendation score area when the dart pin reaches and determinethe area to which the target illumination unit 500 irradiates the lightbased on the determined recommended score area.

Specifically, for example, the controller 110 may determine therecommendation score area as the area to which the target illuminationunit 500 irradiates the light, determine a portion matching therecommendation score area as the area to which the target illuminationunit 500 irradiates the light, and determine a portion adjacent to apoint where a virtual line which simultaneously passes through therecommendation score area and an original point of the dart target meetsthe outline of the dart target as the area to which the targetillumination unit 500 irradiates the light and the present disclosure isnot limited thereto.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, thecontroller 110 may control the pattern of the light irradiated by thetarget illumination unit 500 based on the identification information ofthe user who throws the dart pin.

For example, the controller 110 may control the target illumination unit500 so that a color of the light irradiated by the target illuminationunit 500 in a situation in which the first user throws the dart and acolor of the light irradiated by the target illumination unit 500 in asituation in which the second user throws the dart are different fromeach other.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, thecontroller 110 may determine whether the user is scheduled to throw thedart pin and control the pattern of the light irradiated by the targetillumination unit 500 based on the determination.

For example, the controller 110 may receive a signal indicating whetherthe user is to throw the dart through the touch unit 2130 and change theintensity of the light irradiated by the target illumination unit 500based on the received signal. Specifically, the controller 110 may allowthe intensity of the light irradiated by the target illumination unit500 to be strong while the user touches the touch unit 2130 disposed onat least a part of the dart plate 2100. As another example, thecontroller 110 may allow the intensity of the light irradiated by thetarget illumination unit 500 to be weak or allow the target illuminationunit 500 not to irradiate the light while the user touches the touchunit 2130 disposed on at least a part of the dart plate 2100.

As yet another example, the controller 110 may control the targetillumination unit 500 so that the color of the light irradiated by thetarget illumination unit 500 while the user touches the touch unit 2130disposed on at least a part of the dart plate 2100 is different from thecolor of the light irradiated by the target illumination unit 500 whilethe user does not touch the touch unit 2130.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the dartbooth 2000 may include a side cover 2200, an upper cover 2300, and adart plate 2100 and the dart plate 2100 may include a throw-lineillumination unit 180, a dart plate side illumination unit 2120, thetouch unit 2130, and a dart plate input unit 2140, but the presentdisclosure is not limited thereto.

The throw-line illumination unit 2110 refers to an illumination unit fordisplaying a throw line which is a reference line for throwing the dartpin by the user. For example, illuminations (e.g., LED, OLED, etc.) fordisplaying the throw line may be successively provided in a specificportion of the dart plate 2100. The dart game user may easily recognizethe throw line which is the reference line for throwing the dart pin bythe throw-line illumination unit 2110.

The dart plate side illumination unit 2120 refers to an illuminationunit formed along at least one side of the dart plate 2100 to display aboundary line of the dart plate 2100. The dart plate side illuminationunit 2120 enables the dart plate 2100 to be distinguished from theground even in a dark place, which may prevent the dart user fromfalling down by the dart plate 2100.

The touch unit 2130 refers to a module that is disposed on at least apart of the dart plate 2100 and recognizes the touch input of the user.For example, the touch unit 2130 may extend in a direction away from thedart target 200 from the throw-line illumination unit 2110. In thiscase, the touch unit 2130 may be positioned adjacent to at least a partof the throw-line illumination unit 2110.

In this case, the touch unit 2130 may be configured to include aconductive pressure sensing member. For example, the touch unit 2130 maybe implemented by at least one of a pressure sensing conductive film anda pressure sensing conductive cloth, but is not limited thereto. Whenthe dart game user applies force to at least a part of the conductivepressure sensing member, resistance of the conductive pressure sensingmember is changed, and as a result, the touch unit 2130 may recognizethat the touch is made.

The controller 110 may determine whether the user intends to throw thedart pin based on the signal from the touch unit 2130. For example, whenthe dart game user touches the touch unit 2130, the controller 110 maydetermine that the user intends to throw the dart pin.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, thecontroller 110 may operate the camera unit 140 when the dart game userintends to throw the dart pin. For example, the controller 110 mayoperate the camera unit 140 when the dart game user touches the touchunit 2130. According to another exemplary embodiment of the presentdisclosure, the controller 110 may edit a dart game image photographedbased on a time when the dart game user intends to throw the dart pin.For example, the controller 110 edits the image photographed by thecamera unit 140 to acquire an image for a predetermined time based onthe time when the dart game user touches the touch unit 2130 among theimages continuously photographed by the camera unit 140 and store theacquired image.

According to another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, thecontroller 110 may determine an edition point of the image photographedby the camera unit 140 based on at least one of the time when the dartgame user touches the touch unit 2130 and the time when the dart pinhits the dart target 200. For example, the controller 110 may controlonly a moving picture up to a time when a predetermined time (e.g., 0.2seconds) elapses from the time when the dart pin hits the dart target200 to be stored from a time before a predetermined time (e.g., 0.1second) from the time when the dart game user touches the touch unit2130. As another example, the controller 110 may control only the movingpicture for a predetermined time (for example, 0.1 second) before andafter the time when the dart pin hits the dart target 200 to be stored.However, this is exemplary and the controller 110 may determine theedition point including another time other than the above time. Further,the controller 110 may vary and set a predetermined time for determiningthe edition point from the above time as necessary.

The dart plate input unit 2140 is disposed in at least a part of thedart plate to receive an input associated with execution of the dartgame from the user. Further, the controller 110 may control theoperations of the dart game based on the input from the dart plate inputunit 2140. For example, the dart plate input unit 2140 may be providedat a location closer to the dart target 200 than the throw-lineillumination unit 2110 in the dart plate. In this case, the dart plateinput unit 2140 may include a leftward input area, a rightward inputarea, an upward input area, a downward input area, a selection inputarea, and a cancellation input area, but is not limited thereto.

In another exemplary embodiment, the dart plate input unit 2140 may beprovided at a location farther from the dart target 200 than thethrow-line illumination unit 2110. In another exemplary embodiment ofthe present disclosure, the dart plate input unit 2140 may beincorporated with the touch unit 2130. In this case, the dart plateinput unit 2140 and the touch unit 2130 may be configured to include theconductive pressure sensing member. Depending on a mode of the dart gameapparatus 1000, the signal input through the conductive pressure sensingmember may be recognized as a signal corresponding to the input areaconstituting the dart plate input unit 2140. Depending on another modeof the dart game apparatus 1000, the signal input through the conductivepressure sensing member may be recognized as the signal input into thetouch unit 2130.

In this case, the dart plate input unit 2140 may include the conductivepressure sensing member. For example, the dart plate input unit 2140 maybe implemented by including at least one of the pressure sensingconductive film and the pressure sensing conductive cloth, but is notlimited thereto.

The controller 110 may adjust input information that may be input by thedart plate input unit 2140, partially based on at least one of theidentification information of the user and pre-stored user designationinformation. For example, each of the dart game users may storeinformation that may be input through the dart plate input unit 2140 inadvance and when the user is identified based on the identificationinformation acquired by the dart game apparatus 1000, the controller 110may adjust the information which may be input through the dart plateinput unit 2140 based on the pre-stored information. In this case, theadjusted information may include information on selection andcancellation of the game mode and information on selection andcancellation of the player, but is not limited thereto.

Specifically, for example, the user may select the number of dart gameplayers, a dart game play mode (a zero one game, a cricket game, and thelike), and the dart game mode (a single play, a network play, and thelike) through the dart plate input unit 2140. Further, according to anexemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the user may select avirtual player through the dart plate input unit 2140.

The user may select a dart game match-up mode that may be playedtogether with the virtual player through the dart plate input unit 2140.For example, the user may select “With mode” to play as one team withthe virtual player via the dart plate input unit 2140 or “Vs mode” toplay as a different team from the virtual player.

The controller 110 may determine whether to activate the dart plateinput unit 2140 partially based on at least one of the identificationinformation of the user and the pre-stored user designation information.For example, each of the dart game users may pre-store informationindicating whether to use the dart plate input unit 2140 and when thedart game user is identified based on the identification informationacquired by the dart game apparatus 1000, the controller 110 maydetermine whether to activate the dart plate input unit 2140 based onthe pre-stored information.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the dartgame assistant apparatus 3000 may include a user interface unit 3100, anaudio output unit 3200, a user recognition unit 3300, a storage unit3400, a mounting unit 3500, and a support member 3600. In addition, thedart game assistant apparatus 3000 may optionally further include animage projection unit 3700, and may optionally further include anexternal camera unit 3800.

The dart game assistant apparatus 3000 may be fixedly disposed on theground while being spaced apart from the dart game apparatus 1000 by apredetermined distance in an opposite direction to the dart target 200.For example, the dart game assistant apparatus 3000 may be fixedlydisposed on the ground while being spaced apart from the dart plate 2100which is connected with the dart game apparatus 1000 and extended alongthe ground in the opposite direction to the dart target 200 by apredetermined distance in the opposite direction to the dart target 200.

The user interface unit 3100 according to the exemplary embodiment ofthe present disclosure may be a device that is provided in the dart gameassistant apparatus 3000 and receives a user's input for controlling thedart game apparatus 1000. As one example, the user interface unit 3100may include a keypad, a dome switch, a touch pad (resistive/capacitive),a jog wheel, a jog switch, a touch screen having a display function, andlike, but is not limited thereto.

In an aspect, the dart game user may operate the dart game apparatus1000 through the user interface unit 3100 provided in the dart gameassistant apparatus 3000. Specifically, the user may select the numberof dart game players, the dart game play mode (the zero one game, thecricket game, and the like), and the dart game mode (the single play,the network play, and the like) through the user interface unit 3100.Further, the user may input information for selecting the dart gamematch-up mode playable together with the virtual player through the userinterface unit 3100. For example, the user may select “With mode” toplay as one team with the virtual player via the user interface unit3100 or “Vs mode” to play as a different team from the virtual player.

According to another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, theuser interface unit 3100 may receive a user's input for controlling thedisplay area 315 of the dart game apparatus 1000. For example, the dartgame user may adjust the size of the variable screen displayed on thedisplay area 315 through the user interface unit 3100. Specifically, thedisplay area 315 may be divided into a plurality of areas and at leastone of the sizes of the plurality of respective areas may be adjusted bythe user interface unit 3100.

The location of at least one of the plurality of areas may also beadjusted by the user interface unit 3100. Specifically, the location ofat least one of the plurality of areas may be moved to the upper portionof the display area 315 by the user interface unit 3100. Further, thelocation of at least one of the plurality of areas may be moved to thelower portion of the display area 315 by a control signal input throughthe user interface unit 3100.

The variable screen displayed in at least one of the plurality of areasincluded in the display area 315 may be adjusted by the user interfaceunit 3100. For example, when the variable screen for the dart game useris preset to be displayed in a first area, the preset display of thevariable screen may be changed to displaying the variable screen for thedart target by the control signal input through the user interface unit3100. As another example, the variable screen for game progressinformation may be set to be displayed in the first area by the controlsignal input through the user interface unit 3100.

In this case, the variable screen adjusted by the user interface unit3100 may include at least one of the image photographed by the cameraunit 130, an image received from another dart game apparatus, an imagereceived from the external device, information on the dart game which iscurrently progressed, acquired information depending on a current darthitting location, the event effect of the dart game, a lesson image forthe dart game, an expected acquired score, and an advertisement image,but the present disclosure is not limited thereto.

According to another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, theuser interface unit 3100 may display the variable screen. The variablescreen displayed in the user interface unit 3100 may be diversified. Forexample, the variable screen displayed by the user interface unit 3100may include at least one of the image photographed by the camera unit130, the image received from another dart game apparatus, the imagereceived from the external device, information on the dart game which iscurrently progressed, the acquired information depending on the currentdart hitting location, the event effect of the dart game, the lessonimage for the dart game, the expected acquired score, and theadvertisement image, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto.

In this case, the variable screen displayed in the display area 315 andthe variable screen displayed in the user interface unit 3100 may beinterlocked. For example, the variable screen displayed in the userinterface unit 3100 may be the same as at least one of the variablescreens displayed in the display area. Further, the variable screendisplayed in the user interface unit 3100 may be a reduced screen of atleast one of the variable screens displayed in the display area.

In this case, the variable screen displayed on the user interface unit3100 may be at least one of the images displayed in the display area315, which may be adjusted by the control signal received by the userinterface unit 3100. For example, a plurality of variable screens may bedisplayed in the display area 315, and a variable screen selected by theuser through the user interface unit 3100 among the plurality ofvariable screens may be displayed in the user interface unit 3100.

The user interface unit 3100 may communicate with the dart gameapparatus 1000 via a wired communication network or a wirelesscommunication network. For example, the user interface unit 3100 maycommunicate with the dart game apparatus 1000 through Bluetooth, radiofrequency identification (RFID), infrared data association (IrDA), ultrawideband (UWB), ZigBee, or the like.

The controller 110 may adjust the input information that may be input bythe user interface unit 3100, partially based on at least one of theidentification information of the user and pre-stored user designationinformation. For example, each of the dart game users may pre-store theinformation that may be input through the user interface unit 3100 andwhen the user is identified based on the identification informationacquired by the dart game apparatus 1000, the controller 110 may adjustthe information which may be input through the user interface unit 3100based on the pre-stored information. In this case, the adjustedinformation may include at least one of the information on selection andcancellation of the game mode, the information on selection andcancellation of the player, information on a dart game executionhistory, information on user authentication, and information relatedwith payment of a dart game expense, but is not limited thereto.

According to another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, thecontroller 110 may determine whether to activate the user interface unit3100 partially based on at least one of the identification informationof the user and the pre-stored user designation information. Forexample, each of the dart game users may pre-store informationindicating whether to use the user interface unit 3100 and when the dartgame user is identified based on the identification information acquiredby the dart game apparatus 1000, the controller 110 may determinewhether to activate the user interface unit 3100 based on the pre-storedinformation.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, themounting unit 3500 may be formed on a portion of an upper surface of thedart game assistant apparatus 3000 so as to receive an object of theuser. For example, the mounting unit 3500 may extend from the supportmember 3600 in the direction parallel to the ground. In this case, theupper surface of the mounting unit 3500 may maintain a predeterminedheight from the ground so that the dart game user may place at least oneof food, beverage, and an object. The upper surface of the mounting unit3500 may be provided with at least one receiving groove for mountingvarious articles, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto.

The support member 3600 may support at least one of the user interfaceunit 3100 and the mounting unit 3500 so that at least one of the userinterface unit 3100 and the mounting unit 3500 on the upper surface ofthe dart game assistant apparatus 3000 is isolated from the ground. Forexample, the support member 3600 supports the user interface unit 3100such that the user interface unit 3100 may be isolated from the groundwhile maintaining a predetermined distance from the ground. As a result,the user may conveniently utilize the user interface unit 3100.

The audio output unit 3200 interlocks with the dart game apparatus 1000to output a sound based on an event generated in the dart game apparatus1000. For example, the audio output unit 3200 may output audio datareceived from the network module 150 or stored in the memory (notillustrated) in a sound effect of the game, a game motion guide, gamemethod description, and the like. The audio output unit 3200 may outputa sound signal related with the function (e.g., the game sound effect)performed by the dart game apparatus 1000. The audio output unit 3200may also output a speech of the game player or a third person usinganother dart game apparatus, which is received through the networkmodule 150. The audio output unit 3200 may include a receiver, aspeaker, a buzzer, and the like, but the present disclosure is notlimited thereto. Additionally, the audio output unit 3200 may vary andoutput a volume/a type of music according to the location where the dartpin reaches the dart target. Additionally, the audio output unit 3200may vary and output the volume/the type of music so as to correspond tothe speed of the dart pin.

In this case, the audio output unit 3200 is positioned relatively closerto the dart game user than the sound output unit 190 provided in thedart game apparatus 1000 and generates the sound to enhance an interestof the dart game.

The external camera unit 3800 may photograph whether the user throws thedart pin beyond the throw line. For example, the external camera unit3800 photographs a location adjacent to the throw line to photograph animage in which the user throws the dart pin. In addition, the externalcamera unit 3800 may photograph audiences watching the dart game, but isnot limited thereto and may photograph various images.

According to another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, theimage projection unit 3700 may project the image to the display area 315of the dart game apparatus 1000. For example, the image projection unit3700 projects the image to the display area 315 of the dart gameapparatus 1000 to replace the function of the image projector 124according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

The image projection unit 3700 may allow the image to be output to thedart plate 2100 by projecting the variable screen to the dart plate2100.

The user recognition unit 3300 recognizes unique information of along-range user by using a radio wave through the radio frequencyidentification (RFID) technology which is a kind of the short rangecommunication technology. For example, the user may possess a card, amobile terminal, or unique dart game equipment (for example, his/her ownpersonal dart equipment) which includes an RFID module. Information(e.g., a personal ID, an identification code, and the like of the userregistered in the database server) for identifying the user may berecorded in the RFID module possessed by the user. The user recognitionunit 3300 may identify the RFID module possessed by the user to identifya dart game player which plays the game by using the dart game apparatus1000 and update a database for the identified dart game player oraccumulate new data.

The user recognition unit 3300 may use various technologies (e.g., theshort-range communication technology such as the Bluetooth, and thelike) that may transmit and receive unique information of the user by acontact/non-contact method in addition to the RFID technology. Further,the user recognition unit 3300 may include a biodata identificationmodule that identifies biodata (speech, a fingerprint, and a face) ofthe user by interworking with the microphone of the user interface unit3100, the touch pad, the camera unit 140, and the like.

The storage unit 3400 may store a bill or a coin for performing the dartgame. For example, the storage unit 3400 may store bills such as 1,000won or 5,000 won directly from the dart game user.

The storage unit 3400 can acquire game credits from the dart game user.For example, the storage unit 3400 may acquire the game credits throughthe RFID card of the dart game user and acquire the game credits throughthe network module 150.

In this case, the game credit may be money required for performing thedart game and the storage unit 3400 is not limited to the method and mayacquire the game credit from the user in various methods.

FIG. 2 is a diagram for describing a dart game system according to anexemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

According to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, thedart game system 10000 may include a dart game apparatus 1000, a dartbooth 2000, and a dart game assistant apparatus 3000 and the dart booth2000 may include a dart plate 2100.

The dart game user may enjoy the dart game through the dart game system10000. In this case, the dart game apparatus 1000 may include a displayarea 315 formed in a shape surrounding the outline of the dart target200, so that the dart game apparatus 1000 may generate various effects.

For example, based on the location of the dart pin which reaches thedart target 200, the interest of the user in the dart game may beenhanced by outputting the event effect.

By outputting the score area of the dart target 200 to the display area315 in various methods, the user may easily identify the score of thedart target 200 and the user may more easily perform the dart game bythe scores of the dart target 200, which are output differentlyaccording to a situation.

According to another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, theinput in the dart game apparatus 10000 is performed through the dartplate input unit 2140 provided in the dart plate 2100 and/or the userinterface unit 3100 provided in the dart game assistant apparatus 3000,and as a result, the various situations uncomfortable for the dart gameuser may not occur.

For example, the dart game user may perform the input in the dart gameapparatus 1000 through the dart plate input unit 2140 and/or the userinterface unit 3100 provided in the dart game assistant apparatus 3000,and as a result, there is no need to move to the dart game apparatus1000 in order to perform the input in the dart game apparatus 1000. Inparticular, this allows the dart game user to directly perform the inputfor the dart game without the need to move to the dart game apparatus1000 when the dart game user is a disabled person (e.g., a person with aleg injury, etc.).

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the dartgame assistant apparatus 3000 may include the user interface unit 3100,the audio output unit 3200, the user recognition unit 3300, the storageunit 3400, the mounting unit 3500, and the support member 3600. Adetailed description thereof has been given above in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a diagram for describing the dart game apparatus equipped witha display unit according to the exemplary embodiment of the presentdisclosure.

According to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, thedart game apparatus 1000 may include the display unit 120, the cover130, the dart target 200, and the body structure 300. In this case, thedisplay unit 120 may be displayed to output the variable screen to alocation adjacent to at least a part of the outline of the dart target200.

For example, the dart target 200 may be disposed in contact with thedisplay unit 120. Specifically, for example, the display unit 120 mayhave the receiving groove and the dart target 200 may be seated in thereceiving groove. In another exemplary embodiment, the display unit 120may be constituted by a plurality of display units and the display unitsmay have a shape capable of forming the receiving grooves to expose thedart target 200. For example, one display unit may have a hemisphericalreceiving groove. In this case, the other one display unit may have thehemispherical receiving groove which is coupled with the receivinggroove formed in the one display device to form a circular receivinggroove. However, this is exemplary and the receiving groove may beformed in one display unit constituting the display unit 120 or in threeor more display units. In this case, the dart pin thrown by the dartgame player may reach the dart target 200 through a hole formed in thecover 130.

The dart target 200 may be seated in the hole formed in the cover 130 orthe receiving groove formed in the cover 130. Alternatively, the darttarget 200 may be exposed through the opening formed in the cover 130.In this case, the cover 130 may be disposed between the display unit 120and the throw line so as to expose the dart target 200 and protect thedisplay unit 120. In this case, the dart target 200 may be disposedbetween the display unit 120 and the throw line. A portion where thedart target 200 is disposed in the order of the display unit 120 and thedart target 200 based on a remote distance from the throw line. In thiscase, as described above, the dart target 200 may be exposed through thereceiving groove or the opening formed in the cover 130. A portion wherethe dart target 200 is not disposed in the order of the display unit 120and the cover 130 based on the remote distance from the throw line.

When the display unit 120 is positioned on the back of the dart target120 based on the throw line 120, the display unit 120 may be disposed ata portion adjacent to the outline of the dart target 120 when beingviewed by the user who is positioned on the throw line. The display unit120 may output the variable screen to the location adjacent to at leasta part of the outline of the dart target 200 under the control of thecontroller 110. The variable screen may include play informationdetermined based on the location where the dart hits the dart target200, an event effect that may be displayed according to satisfaction ofa specific event condition, an advertisement promotional image intendedto be exposed to the user, the image received through the network module150, the image photographed by the camera unit 140 of the dart gameapparatus 1000, or information accompanying other visual effects, butthe present disclosure is not limited thereto. The variable screen mayhave the form of a still image or a motion picture.

In an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the dart target200 may be defined to include only segments to which different scoresare assigned according to the game rule of the dart game and boundarylines that divide the segments. In this case, the score assigned to eachsegment may be displayed as one of the variable screens by the displayunit 120. Specifically, in the portion adjacent to the outline of thedart target 200 according to an exemplary embodiment of the presentdisclosure, the score corresponding to the single play of the nearestsegment may be displayed through the display unit 120. However, this isexemplary and the variable screen displayed at the portion adjacent toat least a part of the outline of the dart target 200 is not limited tothe single-play score. For example, event effects, user-relatedinformation (a user's character, a real image, etc.), and the like maybe displayed at the portion adjacent to at least a part of the outlineof the dart target 200, but the present disclosure is not limitedthereto.

When the user hits the dart in an area corresponding to a double segmentor a triple segment of the dart target 200, the display unit 120 maydisplay a process of calculating the score obtained in the correspondingplay in the adjacent area of the dart target 200. The process ofcalculating the score obtained in the corresponding play will bedescribed in detail with reference to FIG. 9.

Depending on a progress situation of the play, a variety of informationmay be displayed in the portion positioned in the adjacent area of thedart target 200. As an example, play information may be displayed. Theplay information may include an acquired score depending on a currentdart hitting location, an expected acquired score, and expected resultinformation. For example, in the 01 game, location information of thesegment that should be hit to finally win may be displayed.Alternatively, the location information of the segment in which thescore is enabled to be obtained may be displayed in the cricket game. Amethod for displaying the location information may be achieved by thedisplay unit 120 displaying a highlight effect in the area closest tothe location of the segment.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, thedisplay unit 120 may be implemented by at least one display unit.Further, one or more respective display units may be independentlycontrolled by the controller 110. In another exemplary embodiment, oneor more respective display units may be interlockingly controlled toimplement a single image over the plurality of display units by thecontroller 110.

For example, the display unit 120 may be implemented by three displayunits 121, 122, and 123 and three respective display units 121, 122, and123 may be independently controlled by the controller 110. For example,different images may be output to three respective display units.Alternatively, three display units interlock with each other to displayrespective portions implementing the single image.

In this case, boundary lines among the display units may be arranged ina direction parallel to the ground and the boundary lines of the displayunits and a circumference formed by the dart target 200 may meet. Forexample, the boundary line between a first display unit 121 and a seconddisplay unit 122 is positioned on the rear surface of the dart target200, and as a result, the boundary line and the circumference formed bythe dart target 200 may meet.

The boundary lines among the display units may be distinguished by abezel implementing the outline of each display unit. The dart target 200may be positioned on the boundary line configured by the bezel. In thiscase, the dart target 200 may be disposed such that the boundary lineconfigured by the bezel does not pass through the center line of thedart target 200.

According to another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, theboundaries among the display units may be arranged in a directionperpendicular to the ground.

Each of the display units may be implemented as a flat display panel.Further, each of the display units may be implemented as a curveddisplay panel, but is not limited thereto.

The cover 130 may be positioned between the display unit 120 and thethrow line to prevent the display unit 120 from being damaged by thedart pin thrown by the dart user. For example, since the cover 130 ispositioned adjacent to the display unit 120, between the display unit120 and the throw line.

In this case, the hole may be formed in the cover 130, and the darttarget 200 may be seated in the hole formed in the cover 130.

At least a part of the cover 130 may be made of a material havingoptical transmittance. For example, the entirety of the cover 130 may betransparent. Further, a part of the cover 130 may be transparent, a partof the cover 130 may be translucent, and a part of the cover part 130may be opaque, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto.

According to another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, adegree of transparency of the cover 130 may be varied according to anelectrical signal applied to the cover 130, so that the degree oftransparency of the cover 130 may be varied under the control of thecontroller.

The image may be output to at least a part of the cover 130. Forexample, the advertisement image may be output to at least a part of thecover 130, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto and variousimages (e.g., a dart game image, a dart ability analysis image, and thelike) may be output.

According to another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, thedisplay unit 120 may be provided with the receiving groove, and the darttarget 200 may be provided in the receiving groove of the display unit120. In this case, the cover 130 may be provided with the hole and thedart pin thrown by the dart player may reach the dart target 200 throughthe hole included in the cover 130.

According to yet another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure,the receiving groove may be formed in the cover 130 and the dart target200 may be seated in the receiving groove formed in the cover 130.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the dartgame apparatus 1000 may include the body structure 300.

The body structure 300 may include a body 310 provided in a verticaldirection to a ground and supporting the display unit 120 of the dartgame apparatus 1000, a cover 320 which extends in an opposite directionto a dart target from an upper end of the display unit 120, and a lowersupport 330 which extends in a throw line direction along the groundfrom an end of the display unit 120 contacting the ground.

Referring to FIG. 3, the body 310 may be implemented in a quadrangularplate shape, but is not limited thereto and the body 310 may beimplemented in various shapes. For example, the body 310 may beimplemented in a quadrangular pillar shape. In this case, the controller110 of the dart game apparatus 1000 may be provided in a space (forexample, a space included in the quadrangular pillar) provided in thebody 310.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, in thecover 320, at least a part of the illumination unit 180 may be providedand at least a part of the sound output unit 190 may be provided.Further, at least a part of the camera unit 140 may be provided.

Even in the lower support 330, at least a part of the illumination unit180 may be provided, at least a part of the sound output unit 190 may beprovided, and at least a part of the camera unit 140 may be provided.

FIG. 4 is a diagram for describing a controller according to theexemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

The controller 110 may control the variable screen displayed in thedisplay area 315. For example, the controller 110 may control thevariable screen displayed in the display area 315 by controlling thedisplay unit 120, control the variable screen displayed in the displayarea 315 by controlling the image projector 124, and control thevariable screen displayed in the display area 315 by controlling theimage projection unit 3700 of the dart game assistant apparatus 3000.The following description will be focused on the display unit 120, butthe following detailed descriptions may be implemented even by the imageprojector 124 and/or the image projection unit 3700 of the dart gameassistant apparatus 3000.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, thecontroller 110 may include at least one of an event effect determinationunit 112, a pre-event generation determination unit 113, and a pre-eventeffect determination unit 114. In this case, the controller 110 may beimplemented by one processor and implemented by a plurality ofprocessors, but is not limited thereto.

The event effect determination unit 112 may determine a location wherethe event effect is displayed in the display area 315 at least partiallybased on the location which the dart pin hits.

For example, when the dart pin reaches the dart target 200, the sensingunit 160 may obtain information on the location where the dart pinreaches the dart target 200 and the event effect determination unit 112may determine the location where the event effect is displayed in thedisplay area 315 at least partially based on the obtained locationinformation.

Specifically, the event effect determination unit 112 may determine aportion adjacent to a point where a line extending from the center ofthe dart target to the location which the dart pin hits meets theoutline of the dart target as the location at which the event effect isto be displayed.

The event effect determination unit 112 may determine a portion matchingthe location which the dart pin hits as the location at which the eventeffect is to be displayed. For example, when the dart pin hits aspecific location, the event effect determination unit 112 may determinea location on the display area 315, which matches the hit location asthe location at which the event effect is to be displayed.

The event effect determination unit 112 may determine a portion matchingan area including the location which the dart pin hits as the locationat which the event effect is to be displayed. For example, the darttarget 200 may be divided into a plurality of fan-shaped areas and theevent effect determination unit 112 may determine a portion adjacent toan arc of a fan-shaped area including the portion which the dart pinhits as the location at which the event effect is displayed.

The event effect determination unit 112 may determine a location in thescreen area, which belongs to a predetermined distance range from thelocation in the dart target where the dart pin is thrown as a locationwhere the event effect is displayed in the screen area.

However, an event effect output location is not unconditionallydependent on the hit portion of the dart pin and the display unit 120may output the event effect regardless of the location of the segmentwhich the dart pin hits. For example, the event effect may be displayedin the display unit 120 regardless of the location of the segment whichthe dart pin hits.

The event effect determination unit 112 may determine at least one ofthe type of the event effect, the duration of the event effect, and thearea of the event effect.

For example, the event effect determination unit 112 may determine theevent effect at least partially based on the location which the dart pinhits. For example, when the dart pin hits a predetermined location, theevent effect determination unit 112 may determine an animation effectbased on the location where the dart pin is determined as the eventeffect. For example, when the dart pin hits the double score area, theevent effect determination unit 112 may control the display area 315 sothat a base score (X) and a final score (X*3) are displayed according toa temporal order. As another example, when the dart pin hits the triplescore area, the event effect determination unit 112 may control thedisplay area 315 so that the base score (X) and the final score (X*3)are displayed according to the temporal order.

As another example, the event effect determination unit 112 maydetermine the duration of the event effect at least partially based onthe location which the dart pin hits. For example, the duration of theevent effect when the dart pin hits the double score area may be longerthan the duration of the event effect when the dart pin hits the singlescore area (e.g., may be twice longer than the duration when the dartpin hits the single score area). Further, the duration of the eventeffect when the dart pin hits the triple score area may be longer thanthe duration of the event effect when the dart pin hits the double area.

The pre-event generation determination unit 113 may determine whether apredetermined event is generated based on dart game progressinformation. For example, the pre-event generation determination unit113 may determine whether the predetermined event occurs by determiningwhether a current dart throwing opportunity of the dart game player isincluded in the predetermined event. Specifically, for example, thepre-event generation determination unit 113 may determine that thepredetermined event occurs when the current dart pin throwingopportunity of the dart game player is included in the predeterminedevent.

In this case, the predetermined event may include at least one of a dartpin throwing opportunity to determine a win or loss of the dart gameplayer and a dart pin throwing opportunity when a reversal is possibleat the time of throwing the dart pin, but is not limited thereto.

The pre-event effect determination unit 114 may determine arecommendation score area of the dart target 200 based on information onthe event which occurs and determine a pre-event effect based on thedetermined recommendation score area. For example, when the occurringevent is the dart pin throwing opportunity that determines the win orloss of the dart game player, the pre-event effect generationdetermination unit 114 may determine a score area of determining the winor loss as the recommendation score area when the dart pin reaches andoutput the pre-event effect based on the determined recommended scorearea.

Specifically, for example, the pre-event generation effect determinationunit 114 may determine a portion matching the recommendation score areaas a location where the pre-event effect is to be displayed anddetermine a portion adjacent to a point where a virtual line thatsimultaneously passes through the recommendation score area and the deadcenter of the dart target meets the outline of the dart target meet asthe location where the pre-event effect is to be displayed, but thepresent disclosure is not limited thereto.

In this case, the pre-event effect may be determined based on at leastone of the pre-event and the determined recommendation score area. Forexample, the pre-event effect may be an effect including a phrase “win”when the pre-event is the dart pin throwing opportunity that determinesthe win or loss of the dart game player and an effect including a phrase“reversal” when the pre-event is the dart pin throwing opportunity whenreversal is available at the time of throwing the dart pin, but is notlimited thereto. In addition, when the recommendation score area is 20points, the pre-event effect may an effect that includes “20”, but thepresent disclosure is not limited thereto.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, thecontroller 110 may determine at least one of the type of the imagedisplayed in the display area 315 and the location of the area in whichthe image is to displayed in the display area 315 based on theidentification information of the user who throws the dart pin.

For example, the controller 110 may control the dart game apparatus 1000so that the location where the image is displayed in the display area315 in the situation in which the first user throws the dart and thelocation where the image is displayed in the display area 315 in thesituation in which the second user throws the dart are different fromeach other.

Specifically, the screen area may be divided into a first user area inwhich an image related to the first user is outputted and a second userarea in which an image related to the second user is to be output andthe first user area and the second user area may be formed as separateareas from each other in the screen area.

The controller 110 may control the display area 315 such that differentimages are displayed in the display area 315 according to the obtaineduser identification information when the same situation occurs in thedart game.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, thecontroller 110 may determine whether the user is scheduled to throw thedart pin and control the image not to be displayed in the display area315 based on the determination. For example, the controller 110 mayreceive the signal indicating whether the user projects the dart throughthe touch unit 2130 and control the image not to be displayed in thedisplay area 315 based on the received signal. Specifically, thecontroller 110 may control the display area 315 so as to prevent theimage from being displayed in the display area 315 while the usertouches the touch unit 2130 disposed on at least a part of the dartplate 2100.

FIG. 5 is a diagram for describing a method for determining an eventeffect according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, when thedart pin reaches the dart target 200, the sensing unit 160 may obtainthe information on the location where the dart pin reaches the darttarget 200 and the event effect determination unit 112 may determine thelocation where the event effect is displayed in the display unit 120 atleast partially based on the obtained location information.

Referring to FIG. 5, the event effect determination unit 112 maydetermine a portion 510 adjacent to a point where a line extending fromthe center of the dart target to the location which the dart pin hitsmeets the outline of the dart target as the location at which the eventeffect is to be displayed when the dart pin reaches the dart target.

It is only an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure that theadjacent portion 510 illustrated in FIG. 5 contacts the dart target andthe adjacent portion 510 may not contact the dart target.

The adjacent portion 510 illustrated in FIG. 5 is exemplary and theadjacent portion 510 according to the exemplary embodiment of thepresent disclosure may be refer to a predetermined area positioned nearthe dart target. As an example, the adjacent portion 510 may refer to anarea surrounding the dart target. Specifically, the adjacent portion 510may be output on the display unit 120 to form a score display area (notillustrated) indicating a base score assigned to each segment of thedart target. In this case, the display unit 120 may be controlled toimplement the visual effect that changes according to a game play resultor reward in the score display area (not illustrated).

For example, a display unit 120 constituted by the plurality of displayunits may display a single event effect displayed over the plurality ofdisplay units. In this case, when at least a portion of the single eventeffect is displayed in the portion 510 adjacent to the outline of thedart target 200, it may be expressed that the single event effect isdisplayed in the adjacent portion 510 of the display unit 120.

FIG. 6 is a diagram for describing a method for determining an eventeffect according to another exemplary embodiment of the presentdisclosure.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, when thedart pin reaches the dart target 200, the sensing unit 160 may obtainthe information on the location where the dart pin reaches the darttarget 200 and the event effect determination unit 112 may determine thelocation where the event effect is displayed in the display unit 120 atleast partially based on the obtained location information.

Referring to FIG. 6, the dart target 200 may be divided into a pluralityof fan-shaped areas and the event effect determination unit 112 maydetermine a portion 610 adjacent to an arc of a fan-shaped areaincluding the portion which the dart pin hits as the location at whichthe event effect is to be displayed.

FIG. 7 is a diagram for describing a method for displaying a variablescreen surrounding a dart target in a display area according to anexemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, thevariable screen may be output to a location adjacent to the dart target200 in the display area 315.

For example, the variable screen may be displayed in the form ofsurrounding the dart target. Specifically, referring to FIG. 7A, thevariable screen may be displayed so as to form a score display area (notillustrated) indicating a base score assigned to each segment of thedart target in the form 710 of surrounding the dart target. In thiscase, the variable screen may be output by the display unit 120 andprojected by the image projector 124.

According to another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, thearea in which the variable screen is displayed may be changed based onthe control signal input by at least one of the user interface unit 3100and a game setting input unit 3200.

For example, when referring to FIGS. 7A, 7B, and 7C, in the case wherethe user intends to widen the area in which the variable screen isdisplayed, the area where the variable screen is displayed may begradually widened from an area 710 of FIG. 7A to an area 730 of FIG. 7Cvia an area 720 of FIG. 7B.

As another example, when the user intends to narrow the area in whichthe variable screen is displayed, the area where the variable screen isdisplayed may be gradually narrowed from the area 730 of FIG. 7C to thearea 710 of FIG. 7A via the area 720 of FIG. 7B.

The example is merely an exemplary embodiment in which the area wherethe variable screen is displayed is adjusted and the area where thevariable screen is displayed may be adjusted by the controller 110 invarious methods.

In another example of the present disclosure, the display unit 120 mayoutput a plurality of variable screens and each of the plurality ofvariable screens is controlled by the controller 110 to be output overat least one display unit. In this case, the number of display units inwhich at least one of the plurality of variable screens is displayed mayvary.

For example, when the display unit 120 outputs two variable screens, afirst variable screen may be displayed in one display unit among aplurality of display units (e.g., a first display unit, a second displayunit, a third display unit, and the like) included in the display unit120. Further, the second variable screen may be displayed over at leasttwo of the plurality of display units, but the present disclosure is notlimited thereto.

In this case, the number of display units to which the variable screenis output may vary depending on the type of the variable screen. Forexample, when the variable screen is a background image, the variablescreen may be output over at least two display units included in thedisplay unit 120. Further, the variable screen may be displayed on thefirst display unit among the plurality of display units when thevariable screen is the score obtained by the user in the dart game. Inaddition, the variable screen may be displayed on the second displayunit among the plurality of display units when the variable screen is animage acquired by photographing the dart game player. The examples arejust an exemplary embodiment and the number of display units to whichthe variable screen is output may vary depending on the type of thevariable screen.

In this case, at least some of the plurality of variable screens outputto the display unit 120 may be different. For example, the firstvariable screen may include the background image and the second variablescreen may include information on a game which is currently in progress.As another example, the first variable screen may include the image ofthe dart game player photographed by the camera unit and the secondvariable screen may include the image for the dart target photographedby the camera unit.

At least some of the plurality of variable screens output to the displayunit 120 may be the same as each other. For example, the image displayedon the first variable screen and the image displayed on the secondvariable screen may be the same as each other.

At least some of the plurality of variable screens output to the displayunit 120 may be the same and at least some of the plurality of variablescreens output to the display unit 120 may be different. For example,the first variable screen may include the background image, the secondvariable screen may include information on the game which is currentlyin progress, the third variable screen may include the image for thedart game player photographed by the camera unit, and a fourth variablescreen may include the variable screen which is the same as the imageincluded in the third variable screen.

FIG. 8 is a diagram for describing a method for displaying a variablescreen adjacent to the dart target according to the exemplary embodimentof the present disclosure.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, thevariable screen may be displayed adjacent to the dart target 200.

In the exemplary embodiment in which the variable screen is displayedadjacent to the dart target 200, the variable screen is displayed in aform crossing at least two points opposite to each other based on thedart target 200, and as a result, at least a part of the variable screenmay be displayed adjacent to the dart target 200.

Specifically, referring to FIG. 8, the variable screen is displayed in aform crossing a first point at an upper right side of the dart target200 in the display area 315 and a second point positioned at a lowerleft side of the dart target 200 in the display area 315, and as aresult, at least a part of the variable screen may be in contact withthe dart target 200.

As another example, the variable screen is displayed in a form crossinga first point at a lower right side of the dart target 200 in thedisplay area 315 and a first point positioned at an upper left side ofthe dart target 200 in the display area 315, and as a result, at least apart of the variable screen may be in contact with the dart target 200.

The present disclosure is not limited to the example and the variablescreen may be displayed in a form crossing various points opposite toeach other based on the dart target 200.

In another exemplary embodiment in which the variable screen isdisplayed adjacent to the dart target 200, at least a part of thevariable screen may be covered by the dart target 200.

For example, when the event effect is displayed in the display area 315,at least some of the event effects are covered by the dart target 200,and as a result, the variable screen may be displayed adjacent to thedart target 200.

FIG. 9 is a diagram for describing a method for determining an eventeffect according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, theevent effect determination unit 112 may determine the event effect atleast partially based on the location which the dart pin hits.

For example, when the dart pin hits the double score area, the eventeffect determination unit 112 may control the display unit 120 so that aprocess of calculating a final score (X*2) is displayed according to thetemporal order.

For example, when the dart pin hits the triple score area, the eventeffect determination unit 112 may control the display unit 120 so thatthe process of calculating the final score (X*2) is displayed accordingto the temporal order.

Referring to FIG. 9, when the dart pin hits a triple area of 16, theevent effect determination unit 112 may control the display unit 120 sothat a base score (16), a process (16*3) of calculating the score, and afinal score (48) are displayed according to the temporal order.

The exemplary embodiment is just an exemplary embodiment of the presentdisclosure and the event effect determination unit 112 is not limitedthereto and may determine the event effect by various methods at leastpartially based on the location which the dart pin hits.

FIG. 10 is a diagram for describing display units according to theexemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, thedisplay unit 120 may be implemented by at least one display unit.Further, one or more respective display units may be independentlycontrolled by the controller 110.

For example, the display unit 120 may be implemented by three displayunits 121, 122, and 123 and three respective display units 121, 122, and123 may be independently controlled by the controller 110. For example,different images may be output to three respective display units.Referring to FIG. 10, the boundary lines among the display units may bearranged in a direction perpendicular to the ground.

At least one of transverse lengths and vertical lengths of the displayunits may be equal to each other. For example, referring to FIG. 10, thetransverse lengths and the vertical lengths of the display units may beequal to each other.

FIG. 11 is a diagram for describing a positional relationship betweenthe display unit and the dart target according to the exemplaryembodiment of the present disclosure.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, thedisplay unit 120 may include a receiving groove 910 capable of receivingthe dart target 200. In this case, the dart target 200 may be seated inthe receiving groove 910 of the display unit 120.

The cover 130 may include a hole 131. When the dart game player throwsthe dart pin, the thrown dart pin may pass through the hole 131 of thecover 130 and the dart pin passing through the hole 131 may reach thedart target 200 seated on the display unit 120.

FIG. 12 is a diagram for describing a positional relationship between acover unit and the dart target according to another exemplary embodimentof the present disclosure.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the darttarget 200 may be seated on the cover 130. For example, the hole 131 maybe formed in the cover 130 and the dart target 200 may be seated in thehole 131 formed in the cover 130.

According to another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, thereceiving groove may be formed in the cover 130 and the dart target 200may be seated in the receiving groove formed in the cover 130.

FIG. 12A illustrates an exemplary embodiment in which the dart target200 is seated in the receiving groove of the cover 130 and FIG. 12Billustrates an exemplary embodiment in which the dart target 200 isseated in the hole of the cover 130.

FIG. 13 is a diagram for describing a method in which the display unitoperates according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, thedisplay unit 120 is divided into a plurality of areas to display variousimages under the control of the controller 110. For example, the displayunit 120 may be divided into three areas 13(a), 13(b), and 13(c) and therespective areas may be independently controlled by the controller 110.In this case, a first area 13(a) may be in the form of a polygon (e.g.,triangle, rectangle, pentagon, etc.) having a predetermined areapositioned above the dart target 200 in the display unit 120, a secondarea 13(b) may be in the form of the polygon (e.g., triangle, square,pentagon, etc.) having a predetermined area positioned below the darttarget 200 in the display unit 120, and a third area 13(c) may be anarea excluding the first area and the second area.

Referring to FIG. 13, when the dart pin reaches the dart target, theevent effect based on the area in which the dart pin hits may bedisplayed to be relatively small in the first area 13(a) and/or thesecond area 13(b) and the event effect based on the area which the dartpin hits may be displayed to be relatively large in the third area13(c). In this case, the event effects displayed in the first area 13(a)and/or the second area 13(b) and the third area 13(c) may be the sameform or not the same form. In this case, a phrase (e.g., Low Ton, etc.)based on the area which the dart pin hits may be further displayed inthe first area 13(a) and/or the second area 13(b).

Specifically, for example, a low ton may be displayed when the dartplayer acquires 100 to 150 points by throwing at least one dart pin in acount-up 01 game, or the like, a high ton may be displayed when the dartplayer acquires 151 to 177 points by throwing at least one dart pin inthe count-up 01 game, hat trick may be displayed when the dart gameplayer puts all three darts in a bull at one turn, phoenix eye may bedisplayed when the dart game player puts all three darts in a doublebull at one turn, ton 80 may be displayed when the dart game player putsall three darts in 20 triple at one turn, three in a bed may bedisplayed when the dart game player puts three darts in the same triplearea or double area at one turn, and white horse may be displayed whenthe dart game player throws three darts in different triple areas,respectively at one turn of the cricket game.

However, this is exemplary and the display unit 120 of the dart gameapparatus 1000 according to an exemplary embodiment of the presentdisclosure is not limited thereto. Specifically, the display unit 120may be configured to display a single event effect over all of theplurality of display units without separately providing the first area13(a) and the second area 13(b).

FIG. 14 is a diagram for describing a method in which the display unitoperates according to another exemplary embodiment of the presentdisclosure.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, thedisplay unit 120 may output a score layer 1210 of the dart target 200 ina part positioned on the periphery of the dart target 200. The scorelayer 1210 of the dart target 200 may include a score area 1211 and aportion 1212 other than the score area. In this case, the score area1211 and the portion 1212 other than the score area are output indifferent colors, and as a result, the dart game player may easilyverify the score of the dart target 200.

A layer 1220 emphasizing the score layer may be output outside the scorelayer 1210. A different color from the portion 1212 other than the scorearea included in the score layer 1210 of the dart target 200 is outputto the layer 1220 emphasizing the score layer, and as a result, thescore area included in the score layer 1210 of the dart target 200 maybe emphasized.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, thescore area 1211 included in the score layer 1210 of the dart target 200may vary depending on the number represented by the score area 1211. Forexample, referring to FIGS. 12, 3 and 18 may be different from eachother. Further, the portion 1212 that is not the score area may alsovary depending on the number represented by the score area 1211. Forexample, the color of the portion 1212 that is not a score area of 3 andthe color of a portion that is not a score area of 18 may be differentfrom each other.

Since the score layer of the dart target 200 in the related art isprovided together with the dart target 200, there is a disadvantage thatthe color may not be expressed. An idea of adding the illumination tothe dart target 200 to emphasize the dart target 200 is present in therelated art, but there is a disadvantage that the idea makes a structureof the dart target 200 be complicated.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, thedisplay unit 120 is disposed on the periphery of the dart target 200,and as a result, the score of the dart target 200 may be easilyemphasized.

FIG. 15 is a diagram for describing a dart game system including animage projection unit according to an exemplary embodiment of thepresent disclosure.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the dartgame system 10000 may include a dart game apparatus 1000, a dart booth2000, and a dart game assistant apparatus 3000 and the dart booth 2000may include a dart plate 2100.

In this case, the dart game apparatus 1000 may include the imageprojector 124 and the screen area provided in the dart game apparatus1000 receives the variable screen projected by the image projector 124to output the image related with the dart game to the display area 315.

According to another exemplary embodiment, the dart game assistantapparatus 3000 may include the image projection unit 3700 and the screenarea provided in the dart game apparatus 1000 receives the variablescreen projected by the image projection unit 3700 to output the imagerelated with the dart game to the display area 315.

The dart game user may enjoy the dart game through the dart game system10000. In this case, the dart game apparatus 1000 may include a displayarea 315 formed in a shape surrounding the outline of the dart target200, so that the dart game apparatus 1000 may generate various effects.

For example, based on the location of the dart pin which reaches thedart target 200, the interest of the user in the dart game may beenhanced by outputting the event effect.

By outputting the score area of the dart target 200 to the display area315 in various methods, the user may easily identify the score of thedart target 200 and the user may more easily perform the dart game bythe scores of the dart target 200, which are output differentlyaccording to a situation.

According to another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, theinput in the dart game apparatus 1000 through the dart plate input unit2140 provided in the dart plate 2100 and/or the user interface unit 3100provided in the dart game assistant apparatus 3000 is performed, and asa result, the various situations uncomfortable for the dart game usermay not occur.

For example, the dart game user may perform the input in the dart gameapparatus 1000 through the dart plate input unit 2140 and/or the userinterface unit 3100 provided in the dart game assistant apparatus 3000,and as a result, there is no need to move to the dart game apparatus1000 in order to perform the input in the dart game apparatus 1000. Inparticular, this allows the dart game user to directly perform the inputfor the dart game without the need to move to the dart game apparatus1000 when the dart game user is a disabled person (e.g., a person with aleg injury, etc.).

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure,functions implemented by the dart game apparatus 1000 having the displayunit 120 may be implemented even by the dart game apparatus 1000 havingthe image projector 124. For example, the dart game apparatus 1000 mayoutput the variable screen to the periphery of the dart target 200 byutilizing the image projector 124.

According to another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, thevariable screen may be projected to the dart plate 2100 by the imageprojector 124. For example, the variable screen projected by the imageprojector 124 may be output to the area between the lower support 330 ofthe dart game apparatus 1000 and the dart plate input unit 2140 of thedart plate 2100. Specifically, for example, the image projector 124provided in the cover 320 of the dart game apparatus 1000 may projectthe variable screen toward the dart plate 2100. Further, the imageprojector 124 provided in the lower support 330 of the dart gameapparatus 1000 may project the variable screen toward the dart plate2100.

According to another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure,when the dart game user intends to throw the dart pin, the imageprojector 124 may not project the variable screen to the display area315 during a predetermined time period and/or until it is sensed thatthe dart pin is thrown to the dart target by the control of thecontroller 110. In this case, whether the dart game user intends tothrow the dart pin may be determined based on the signal obtained fromthe touch unit 2130.

FIG. 16 is a diagram for describing a dart game apparatus including animage projector according to an exemplary embodiment of the presentdisclosure.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the dartgame apparatus 1000 may include the image projector 124 and the displayarea 315.

The display area 315 may receive the variable screen projected by theimage projector 124 and the variable screen projected by the imageprojector 124 may be output to the display area 315. The display area315 may be implemented in a form in which the distance from a virtualplane extending upward from the throw line becomes shorter toward adistal portion from the center. Further, the display area 315 may beimplemented in a hemispherical shape or a parabolic shape so that theimage projected from the image projector 124 may be reflected to theuser.

The image projector 124 is provided in the dart game apparatus 1000 toproject the variable screen toward the display area 315. For example,the image projector 124 is provided in the cover 320 of the dart gameapparatus 1000 to project the variable screen toward the display area315. Further, the image projector 124 is provided in the lower support330 of the dart game apparatus 1000 to project the variable screentoward the display area 315.

The image projector 124 may include a plurality of image projectionunits, at least some of the plurality of image projection units may bedisposed in the cover 320, and at least some of the plurality of imageprojection units may be disposed in the lower support 330.

In this case, variable screens projected by the plurality of imageprojection units are combined and associated with each other to outputvarious images to the display area 315 of the dart game apparatus 1000.

For example, the display area 315 may be divided into a plurality ofareas, the variable screen projected by the image projector 124 disposedin the cover 320 may be output to at least some areas among theplurality of areas, and the variable screen projected by the imageprojector 124 disposed in the lower support 330 may be output to atleast some other areas.

As another example, at least a part of the variable screen projected bythe image projection unit 3700 disposed in the cover 320 and at least apart of the variable screen projected by the image projection unit 3700disposed in the lower support 330 are combined, and as a result, theimage may be generated and the generated image may be output to thedisplay area 315.

Specifically, for example, at least a part of the variable screenprojected by the image projection unit 124 disposed in the cover 320 andat least a part of the variable screen projected by the image projectionunit 124 disposed in the lower support 330 may overlap with each otherand overlapped portions may be connected by edge blending technology. Asa result, an image such as one large screen that is naturally extendedand is vertically long may be output to the display area 315.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the dartgame apparatus 1000 may include the cover 130 for protecting the displayarea 315 and the cover 130 may receive the dart target 200. For example,referring to FIG. 14A, the cover 130 may include the receiving groovefor seating the dart target 200 and the dart target 200 may be seated inthe receiving groove of the cover 130. As another example, referring toFIG. 14B, the cover 130 may include the hole for seating the dart target200 and the dart target 200 may be seated in the hole of the cover 130.

FIG. 17 is a diagram for describing a dart game apparatus including animage projection unit according to another exemplary embodiment of thepresent disclosure.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the darttarget 200 may be provided in the display area 315. For example, thedisplay area 315 may include the receiving groove for receiving the darttarget 200 and the dart target 200 may be seated in the receiving grooveprovided in the display area 315. Further, according to anotherexemplary embodiment, the dart target 200 may be attached to the displayarea 315, but is not limited thereto.

FIG. 18 is a diagram for describing a dart plate input unit according toan exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, at leasta part of the dart plate 2100 may include a dart plate input unit 2140,a throw-line illumination unit 2110, and a touch unit 2130.

The dart plate input unit 2140 is disposed on at least a portion of thedart plate to receive an input relating to execution of the dart gamefrom the user. Further, the controller 110 may control the operations ofthe dart game based on the input from the dart plate input unit 2140.For example, the dart plate input unit 2140 may be provided at alocation closer to the dart target 200 than the throw-line illuminationunit 2110 in the dart plate. In this case, the dart plate input unit2140 may include a leftward input area, a rightward input area, anupward input area, a downward input area, a selection input area, and acancellation input area, but is not limited thereto.

In this case, the dart plate input unit 2140 may include the conductivepressure sensing member. For example, the dart plate input unit 2140 maybe implemented by at least one of the pressure sensing conductive filmand the pressure sensing conductive cloth (e.g., velostat, etc.), but isnot limited thereto.

The controller 110 may adjust input information that may be input by thedart plate input unit 2140, partially based on at least one of theidentification information of the user and pre-stored user designationinformation. For example, each of the dart game users may storeinformation that may be input through the dart plate input unit 2140 inadvance and when the user is identified based on the identificationinformation acquired by the dart game apparatus 1000, the controller 110may adjust the information which may be input through the dart plateinput unit 2140 based on the pre-stored information. In this case, theadjusted information may include information on selection andcancellation of the game mode and information on selection andcancellation of the player, but is not limited thereto.

Specifically, for example, the user may select the number of dart gameplayers, a dart game play mode (a zero one game, a cricket game, and thelike), and the dart game mode (a single play, a network play, and thelike) through the dart plate input unit 2140. Further, according to anexemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the user may select avirtual player through the dart plate input unit 2140.

The user may select a dart game match-up mode that may be playedtogether with the virtual player through the dart plate input unit 2140.For example, the user may select “With mode” to play as one team withthe virtual player via the dart plate input unit 2140 or “Vs mode” toplay as a different team from the virtual player.

The controller 110 may determine whether to activate the dart plateinput unit 2140 partially based on at least one of the identificationinformation of the user and the pre-stored user designation information.For example, each of the dart game users may pre-store informationindicating whether to use the dart plate input unit 2140 and when thedart game user is identified based on the identification informationacquired by the dart game apparatus 1000, the controller 110 maydetermine whether to activate the dart plate input unit 2140 based onthe pre-stored information.

The throw-line illumination unit 2110 refers to an illumination unit fordisplaying a throw line which is a reference line for throwing the dartpin by the user. For example, illuminations (e.g., LED, OLED, etc.) fordisplaying the throw line may be successively provided in a specificportion of the dart plate 2100. For example, according to a standard ofthe dart game, the illuminations constituting the throw-lineillumination unit 2110 may be arranged on at least a part of a line onwhich the throw line is positioned. A flickering state of the throw-lineillumination unit 2110 may be controlled by the controller 110 accordingto the game mode of the dart game apparatus 1000. For example, thethrow-line illumination unit 2110 may be lit only when the dart gameapparatus 1000 is in an in-game state. The “in-game state” may mean astate in which the user inputs a credit for playing the gamelegitimately through the storage unit 3400 and performs the dart game.The credit may be input via the storage unit 3400 or received via thenetwork module 150. The dart game user may easily recognize the throwline which is the reference line for throwing the dart pin by thethrow-line illumination unit 2110. In another exemplary embodiment, thethrow-line illumination unit 2110 may be controlled to be lit off by thecontroller 110 so that identification of the throw line is relativelydifficult when the dart game apparatus 1000 is not in an “in-gamestate”.

The touch unit 2130 refers to a module that is disposed on at least apart of the dart plate 2100 and recognizes the touch input of the user.For example, the touch unit 2130 may extend in a direction away from thedart target 200 from the throw-line illumination unit 2110. In thiscase, the touch unit 2130 may be positioned adjacent to at least a partof the throw-line illumination unit 2110.

In this case, the touch unit 2130 may be configured by the conductivepressure sensing member. For example, the touch unit 2130 may beimplemented by at least one of a pressure sensing conductive film and apressure sensing conductive cloth, but is not limited thereto. When thedart game user applies force to at least a part of the conductivepressure sensing member, resistance of the conductive pressure sensingmember is changed, and as a result, the touch unit 2130 may recognizethat the touch is made.

The controller 110 may determine whether the user intends to throw thedart pin based on the signal from the touch unit 2130. For example, thecontroller 110 may determine that the user intends to throw the dart pinwhen the dart game user touches the touch unit 2130.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, thecontroller 110 may operate the camera unit 140 when the dart game userintends to throw the dart pin. For example, the controller 110 mayoperate the camera unit 140 when the dart game user touches the touchunit 2130. According to another exemplary embodiment of the presentdisclosure, the controller 110 may edit a dart game image stored basedon a time when the dart game user intends to throw the dart pin. Forexample, the controller 110 edits the image photographed by the cameraunit 140 to acquire an image for a predetermined time based on the timewhen the dart game user touches the touch unit 2130 among the imagescontinuously photographed by the camera unit 140 and store the acquiredimage.

Referring to FIG. 18, the dart plate input unit 2140 may be in contactwith at least a part of the throw-line illumination unit 2110 and thetouch unit 2130 may also be in contact with at least a part of thethrow-line illumination unit 2110. In addition, the dart plate inputunit 2140, the throw-line illumination unit 2110, and the touch unit2130 may be arranged in succession. In another exemplary embodiment ofthe present disclosure, the dart plate input unit 2140 and the touchunit 2130 are incorporated to constitute one module.

FIG. 19 is a diagram for describing that a controller 110 provides adart game match-up mode which a plurality of players including a virtualplayer and at least one real player performs according to anotherexemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the dartgame apparatus 1000 may include a virtual game match-up mode providingunit 115. The virtual game match-up mode providing unit 115 may providea dart game match-up mode which a plurality of players including atleast one virtual player and at least one real player may perform.

The virtual game match-up mode providing unit 115 may provide a dartgame match-up mode in which a team including the virtual player and thereal player together may play the game with at least one other team. Inthis case, there may be more than one virtual player and more than onereal player.

For example, the virtual game match-up mode providing unit 115 mayprovide a dart game match-up mode in which a first real player and afirst virtual player become the same team to play the game and provide adart game match-up mode in which the first real player, the firstvirtual player, and a second virtual player become the same team to playthe game.

The virtual game match-up mode providing unit 115 may provide a dartgame match-up mode in which the first real player and the first virtualplayer become the same team and a second real player and the secondvirtual player become the same team to play the game. In this case, thevirtual game match-up mode providing unit 115 may adjust a balance of adart game ability among the respective teams by adjusting the dart gameabilities of the virtual players.

The virtual game match-up mode providing unit 115 may provide a dartgame match-up mode in which a team including only the virtual playersand a team including only the real players, or a combination thereof mayplay the game with at least one other team. In this case, there may bemore than one virtual player and more than one real player.

For example, the virtual game match-up mode providing unit 115 mayprovide a dart game match-up mode in which the first real player and thesecond real player become a first team and the virtual player and thesecond virtual player become a second team to play the game.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, thevirtual game match-up mode providing unit 115 may allow a predeterminedfirst image to be displayed to the display area 315 according to the hitlocation of the dart pin thrown by at least one real player, which issensed by the sensing unit 160.

The virtual game match-up mode providing unit 115 may set a conditionfor displaying the first image in advance. For example, the virtual gamematch-up mode providing unit 115 may set the first image to be displayedwhen the hit location is a double bull 410, a single bull 420, a triplering 440, and a double ring 460. The virtual game match-up modeproviding unit 115 may receive and set the input of the user and setdata from the external device according to received data, but is notlimited thereto.

The virtual game match-up mode providing unit 115 may acquireinformation on the hit location of the dart pin thrown by the realplayer. Herein, there may be more than one real player.

For example, the sensing unit 160 may sense whether the hit location ofthe dart pin thrown by the real player is the double bull 410, thesingle bull 420, a small single 430, the triple ring 440, a large single450, or the double ring 460 among the areas of the dart target 200 andthe virtual game match-up mode providing unit 115 may acquire theinformation on the hit location from the sensing unit 160.

The virtual game match-up mode providing unit 115 may allow the firstimage to be displayed in the display area 315 according to the hitlocation of the dart pin thrown by the real player.

For example, when the hit location is the triple ring 440 and when thehit location is the double bull 410, the first image is set to bedisplayed in advance and when the hit location of the dart pin thrown bythe real player is the triple ring 440 or the double bull 410, thevirtual game match-up mode providing unit 115 may allow the first imageto be displayed in the display area 315.

The first image may be an image associated with the virtual player. Forexample, the first image may be associated with the virtual player thatforms the same team as the real player among the virtual playersparticipating in the dart game. Further, the first image may beassociated with the virtual player that forms a different team from thereal player among the virtual players participating in the dart game. Inaddition, the first image may be associated with at least one of one ormore virtual players which do not participate in the dart game, but arestored in the dart game apparatus 1000.

The first image may include an effect image for the hit location of thethrow dart pin. For example, the first image may include an image inwhich the virtual player appears and shouts triple, an image in whichthe virtual player appears and shouts double, and an image in which thevirtual player appears and shouts double bull, but is not limitedthereto.

A time at which the first image is displayed may be set in advance. Forexample, the first image may be displayed in the display area 315 at thesame time as the dart pin thrown by the real player arrives at the darttarget 200 and the first image may be displayed within a predeterminedtime after the dart pin arrives at the dart target 200, but is notlimited thereto.

A display period of the first image may be set in advance. For example,the display period of the first image may be set between 0.8 seconds and1.2 seconds in advance so as to prevent a large influence from beingexerted on a progress time of the dart game, but is not limited thereto.

The first image may be displayed in a part or the entirety of thedisplay area 315. For example, the first image may be displayed in aportion of a lower left area in the display area 315. Further, the firstimage may be displayed in a part of a lower right area in the displayarea 315 and may be displayed in the entirety of the display area 315,but is not limited thereto.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, thevirtual game match-up mode providing unit 115 may allow the display area315 to display the second image depending on the hit locations of aplurality of dart pins thrown in one round from one of one or more realplayers.

The virtual game match-up mode providing unit 115 may set a case wherethe second image is displayed in advance. For example, the virtual gamematch-up mode providing unit 115 may calculate the sum of the scores ofthe plurality of dart pins thrown in one round and set the second imageto be displayed when the calculated value is larger than a predeterminedvalue. Further, the virtual game match-up mode providing unit 115 mayset the second image to be displayed when the hit locations of one ormore dart pins among the plurality of dart pins thrown in one roundcorrespond to specific areas. The virtual game match-up mode providingunit 115 is not limited thereto and may set the second image to bedisplayed in the display area 315 according to the hit locations of theplurality of dart pins thrown in one round in various cases.

The virtual game match-up mode providing unit 115 may acquire from thesensing unit 160 information on the hit locations of the plurality ofdart pins thrown by the real player in one round. For example, when thereal player throws the dart pin three times in one round, information onthe hit locations of respective dart pins three times may be obtainedfrom the sensing unit 160.

The virtual game match-up mode providing unit 115 may allow the secondimage to be displayed according to the hit locations of the plurality ofdart pins. For example, the virtual game match-up mode providing unit115 may calculate the sum of the scores which match the hit locations ofthe plurality of dart pins, respectively and allow the display area 315to display the second image when the calculated value is equal to orlarger than a predetermined value. As another example, the virtual gamematch-up mode providing unit 115 may allow the display area 315 todisplay the second image when areas including the hit locations of twodart pins among the hit locations of three dart pins thrown in one roundare the same as each other.

The second image may be the image associated with the virtual player.For example, the second image may be associated with the virtual playerthat forms the same team as the real player among the virtual playersparticipating in the dart game. Further, the second image may beassociated with the virtual player that forms a different team from thereal player among the virtual players participating in the dart game. Inaddition, the second image may be associated with at least one of one ormore virtual players which do not participate in the dart game, but arestored in the dart game apparatus 1000.

The second image may include an AWARD image for the hit locations of thedart pins thrown in one round. For example, the second image may be aphenomenon in which the virtual player appears and shouts nice, whichindicates a meaning of praising the real player, a phenomenon in whichthe virtual player appears and shouts good, which indicates a meaning ofpraising the real player, an image in which the virtual player appearsand shouts cheer, which indicates a meaning of praising the real player,an image in which the virtual player appears and shouts perfect, whichindicates that the real player is perfect, and the like, but is notlimited thereto.

A time at which the second image is displayed may be set in advance. Forexample, the second image may be displayed at a time when one roundends, a time when a predetermined time elapses after the end of oneround, or a time at which a user's input is received after the end ofone round, but is not limited thereto.

The display period of the second image may be set in advance. Forexample, the display period of the second image may be set between 0.8seconds and 1.2 seconds in advance so as to prevent the large influencefrom being exerted on the progress time of the dart game, but is notlimited thereto.

The second image may be displayed in a part or the entirety of thedisplay area 315. For example, the second image may be displayed in apart of the lower left area in the display area 315. Further, the secondimage may be displayed in a part of the lower right area in the displayarea 315 and may be displayed in the entirety of the display area 315,but is not limited thereto.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, thevirtual game match-up mode providing unit 115 may predict the round ofthe real player and allow a third image to be displayed in the displayarea 315 before the round of the real player starts according to theidentification information.

The virtual game match-up mode providing unit 115 may predict the roundof the real player. For example, when a first player and a second playerperform a dart match-up game and the round of the second player ends,the virtual game match-up mode providing unit 115 may predict that theround of the first player will start.

The virtual game match-up mode providing unit 115 may allow the thirdimage to be displayed in the display area 315 according to theidentification information of the real player before the round of thereal player starts. For example, when the first player and the secondplayer perform the dart match-up game and the round of the second playerends, the virtual game match-up mode providing unit 115 may allow thethird image to be displayed in the display area 315 before the round ofthe first player starts according to the identification information ofthe first player.

The identification information means various information related to thereal player. For example, the identification information may include ascore obtained by the real player before the start of a current round,points per dart (PPD) of the real player, marks per round (MPR) of thereal player, a member grade of the real player, a record of the realplayer, and the like, but is not limited thereto and may include variousinformation related to the real player.

The third image may be the image associated with the virtual player. Forexample, the third image may be associated with the virtual player thatforms the same team as the real player among the virtual playersparticipating in the dart game. Further, the third image may beassociated with the virtual player that forms a different team from thereal player among the virtual players participating in the dart game. Inaddition, the third image may be associated with at least one of one ormore virtual players which do not participate in the dart game, but arestored in the dart game apparatus 1000.

The third image may include a cheer image for the real player. Forexample, the third image may include an image in which the virtualplayer appears and shouts fighting, an image in which the virtual playerappears and shouts encouragement, an image in which the virtual playerappears and sings a fight song, and the like, but is not limitedthereto.

A time at which the third image is displayed may be set in advance. Forexample, the third image may be displayed when a predetermined time haselapsed after the end of one round or when the user's input is receivedafter the end of one round, and the like, but is not limited thereto.

The display period of the third image may be set in advance. Forexample, the display period of the third image may be set between 0.8seconds and 1.2 seconds in advance so as to prevent the large influencefrom being exerted on the progress time of the dart game, but is notlimited thereto.

The third image may be displayed in a part or the entirety of thedisplay area 315. For example, the third image may be displayed in apart of a lower left side in the display area 315. Further, the thirdimage may be displayed in a part of a lower right side in the displayarea 315 and may be displayed in the entirety of the display area 315,but is not limited thereto.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, thevirtual game match-up mode providing unit 115 may sense the round of thevirtual player and allow an image related to dart pin throwing of thevirtual player to be displayed in the display area 315 while the sensedround of the virtual player is played.

The virtual game match-up mode providing unit 115 may sense the round ofthe virtual player. For example, when the first real player and thefirst virtual player plays the dart match-up mode and when the round ofthe first real player ends, the virtual game match-up mode providingunit 115 may sense that the current round is the round of the firstvirtual player.

The virtual game match-up mode providing unit 115 may allow a fourthimage related to the dart pin throwing of the virtual player to bedisplayed in the display area 315 while the round of the virtual playeris played.

The fourth image may include an operation image in which the virtualplayer throws the dart pin, an image in which the dart pin moves towardthe dart target, an image in which the thrown dart pin arrives at thedart target, or a combination thereof. For example, when the fourthimage is divided into two areas, a first area may include the operationimage in which the virtual player throws the dart pin and a second areamay include the image where the thrown dart pin arrives at the darttarget. In addition, the fourth image is divided into three areas, thefirst area on a right side may include the operation image in which thevirtual player throws the dart pin, the second area at the center mayinclude the image in which the dart pin moves toward the dart target,and a third area on a left side may include the image where the throwndart pin arrives at the dart target.

When the fourth image is divided into a plurality of areas, therespective areas may be displayed simultaneously or sequentially.

For example, when the fourth image is divided into three areas, theoperation image in which the virtual player throws the dart pin in thefirst area, the image in which the thrown dart pin moves toward the darttarget in the second area, and the image where the thrown dart pinarrives at the dart target in the third area may be simultaneouslydisplayed. Further, the operation image in which the virtual playerthrows the dart pin in the first area may be displayed and thereafter,the image in which the thrown dart pin moves toward the dart target inthe second area may be displayed. Then, the image where the thrown dartpin arrives at the dart target in the third area may be displayed.

The fourth image may include various effects. For example, the dart pinthrowing image included in the fourth image may include a slow effectthat the dart pin moves slowly toward the dart target, a twinklingeffect of the moving dart pin, an effect that the dart pin moves whilebeing closed up, and the like, but is not limited thereto and the dartpin throwing image may include various effects.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, thevirtual game match-up mode providing unit 115 may allow a predeterminedfifth image to be displayed to the display area 315 according to the hitlocation of the dart pin thrown by at least one virtual player.

The virtual game match-up mode providing unit 115 may acquireinformation on the hit location of the dart pin thrown by the virtualplayer. Herein, there may be more than one virtual player.

For example, the virtual game match-up mode providing unit 115 may sensewhether the hit location of the dart pin thrown by the virtual player isthe double bull 410, the single bull 420, the small single 430, thetriple ring 440, the large single 450, or the double ring 460 among theareas of the dart target 200.

The virtual game match-up mode providing unit 115 may allow the fifthimage to be displayed in the display area 315 according to the hitlocation of the dart pin thrown by the virtual player.

For example, when the hit location is the triple ring 440 and when thehit location is the double bull 410, the fifth image is set to bedisplayed in advance and when the hit location of the dart pin thrown bythe virtual player is the triple ring 440 or the double bull 410, thevirtual game match-up mode providing unit 115 may allow the fifth imageto be displayed in the display area 315.

The fifth image may be the image associated with the virtual player. Forexample, the fifth image may be associated with the virtual player thatforms the same team as the virtual player who throws the dart pin amongthe virtual players participating in the dart game. Further, the fifthimage may be associated with the virtual player that forms a differentteam from the player who throws the dart pin among the virtual playersparticipating in the dart game. In addition, the fifth image may beassociated with at least one of one or more virtual players which do notparticipate in the dart game, but are stored in the dart game apparatus1000.

The fifth image may include the effect image for the hit location of thethrown dart pin. For example, the fifth image may include the image inwhich the virtual player appears and shouts triple, the image in whichthe virtual player appears and shouts double, and the image in which thevirtual player appears and shouts double bull, but is not limitedthereto.

A time at which the fifth image is displayed may be set in advance. Forexample, the fifth image may be displayed in the display area 315 at thesame time as the dart pin thrown by the virtual player arrives at thedart target 200 and the first image may be displayed within apredetermined time after the dart pin arrives at the dart target 200,but is not limited thereto.

The display period of the fifth image may be set in advance. Forexample, the display period of the fifth image may be set between 0.8seconds and 1.2 seconds in advance so as to prevent the large influencefrom being exerted on the progress time of the dart game, but is notlimited thereto.

The fifth image may be displayed in a part or the entirety of thedisplay area 315. For example, the fifth image may be displayed in apart of the lower left side in the display area 315. Further, the fifthimage may be displayed in a part of the lower right side in the displayarea 315 and may be displayed in the entirety of the display area 315,but is not limited thereto.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, thevirtual game match-up mode providing unit 115 may allow the display area315 to display a fifth image depending on the hit locations of aplurality of dart pins thrown in one round from one of one or morevirtual players.

The virtual game match-up mode providing unit 115 may acquireinformation on the hit locations of the plurality of dart pins thrown bythe virtual player in one round. For example, when the virtual playerthrows the dart pin three times in one round, the virtual game match-upmode providing unit 115 may acquire information on the hit locations ofrespective dart pins three times.

The virtual game match-up mode providing unit 115 may allow the displayarea 315 to display the sixth image according to the hit locations ofthe plurality of dart pins. For example, the virtual game match-up modeproviding unit 115 may calculate the sum of the scores which match thehit locations of the plurality of dart pins, respectively and allow thedisplay area 315 to display the sixth image when the calculated value isequal to or larger than a predetermined value. As another example, thevirtual game match-up mode providing unit 115 may allow the display area315 to display the sixth image when areas including the hit locations oftwo dart pins among the hit locations of three dart pins thrown in oneround are the same as each other.

The sixth image may be the image associated with the virtual player. Forexample, the sixth image may be associated with the virtual player thatforms the same team as the virtual player who throws the dart among thevirtual players participating in the dart game. For example, the sixthimage may be associated with the virtual player that forms a differentteam from the virtual player who throws the dart among the virtualplayers participating in the dart game. In addition, the sixth image maybe associated with at least one of one or more virtual players which donot participate in the dart game, but are stored in the dart gameapparatus 1000 or associated with the virtual player who throws thedart.

The sixth image may include the AWARD image for the hit locations of thedart pins thrown in one round. For example, the sixth image may includean image in which the virtual player appears and shouts nice, an imagein which the virtual player appears and shouts good, and an image inwhich the virtual player appears and shouts cheer, an image in which thevirtual player appears and shouts perfect, and the like, but is notlimited thereto.

A time at which the sixth image is displayed may be set in advance. Forexample, the sixth image may be displayed at the time when one roundends or the time when a predetermined time elapses after the end of oneround, but is not limited thereto.

The display period of the sixth image may be set in advance. Forexample, the display period of the sixth image may be set between 0.8seconds and 1.2 seconds in advance so as to prevent the large influencefrom being exerted on the progress time of the dart game, but is notlimited thereto.

The sixth image may be displayed in a part or the entirety of thedisplay area 315. For example, the sixth image may be displayed in apart of the lower left side in the display area 315. Further, the sixthimage may be displayed in a part of the lower right side in the displayarea 315 and may be displayed in the entirety of the display area 315,but is not limited thereto.

FIG. 20 is a diagram for describing a method in which a controllercreates a lesson image according to another exemplary embodiment of thepresent disclosure.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, thecontroller 110 of the dart game apparatus 1000 may include a motioninformation obtaining unit 116, a foot pressure information obtainingunit 117, a throwing guide information generating unit 118, and a lessonimage generating unit 119.

The motion information obtaining unit 116 may obtain motion informationof the dart pin thrown by the dart game user. The motion informationmeans information on movement of the dart pin during the time from thetime when the dart pin is thrown by the user to the time before the dartpin reaches the dart target 200. For example, the motion information mayinclude speed information of the dart pin and trajectory information ofthe thrown dart pin, but is not limited thereto and may include variousinformation related to the movement of the dart pin.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, themotion information obtaining unit 116 may obtain the motion informationof the dart pin from the motion measurement module 400 provided in thedart game apparatus 1000. For example, the motion measurement module 400may measure the motion of the dart pin using a Doppler effect and themotion information obtaining unit 116 may receive information on themeasured motion from the motion measurement module 400.

The motion information obtaining unit 116 may obtain the motioninformation of the dart pin by analyzing the image photographed by thecamera unit 140. For example, the camera unit 140 may photograph themovement of the dart pin thrown by the dart game user and the motioninformation obtaining unit 116 may acquire the information on themovement of the dart pin by analyzing the photographed image.

When the dart game user throws the dart, the foot pressure informationobtaining unit 117 may obtain foot pressure information which isinformation on the pressure applied by the foot of the dart game user.In this case, the foot pressure information may include at least one offoot shape information, foot location information, and detailed footpressure information, but is not limited thereto.

The foot shape information means information related to a shape formedby the foot of the dart game user when the dart game user throws thedart.

The detailed foot pressure information means detailed informationregarding the pressure applied by the foot of the dart game user whenthe dart game user throws the dart. For example, the foot of the dartgame user may be divided into a plurality of areas and when a dart gameuser throws the dart pin, the pressure applied by each of the pluralityof areas may be different. In this case, information on the pressureapplied by each of the plurality of regions may be the detailed footpressure information.

The foot location information means information related to an area wherethe foot of the dart game user is positioned when the dart game userthrows the dart.

The throwing guide information generating unit 118 may generate throwingguide information for the dart game user based on at least one of thefoot pressure information and the motion information of the dart pin.

According to another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, thethrowing guide information generating unit 118 may analyze the motioninformation of the dart pin and generate the throwing guide informationfor the dart game user based on the analysis result.

The throwing guide information generating unit 118 may obtain speedinformation on a trajectory of the dart. For example, the throwing guideinformation generating unit 118 may obtain a speed allowing the dart pinto move in a parabolic orbit by analyzing movement information of theplurality of dart pins. Further, the throwing guide informationgenerating unit 118 may obtain a speed allowing the dart pin to move ina straight line by analyzing the movement information of the pluralityof dart pins. As another example, the throwing guide informationgenerating unit 118 may obtain the speed information on the trajectoryof the dart from the external device.

The throwing guide information generating unit 118 may generate thethrowing guide information based on the speed information on thetrajectory of the dart and the motion information of the dart pin thrownby the user. For example, the throwing guide information generating unit118 may generate dart throwing guide information indicating a speed atwhich the dart pin may move in the straight line when the dart pin ofthe dart game user moves in the parabolic orbit.

The throwing guide information generating unit 118 may obtain standarddart speed information. For example, the throwing guide informationgenerating unit 118 calculates an average speed of the dart pins thrownby dart game users having a specific ability or more (in this case, thedart ability may be identified by the PPD, the MPR, etc., but is notlimited thereto) to obtain the standard dart speed information. Asanother example, the throwing guide information generating unit 118 mayobtain the standard dart speed information from the external device.

The throwing guide information generating unit 118 may generate thethrowing guide information for the dart game user based on the standarddart speed information. For example, the throwing guide informationgenerating unit 118 compares the standard dart speed information withthe motion information of the dart pins thrown by the dart game user andwhen the motion of the dart pin thrown by the dart game user is fasterthan the standard dart speed, the throwing guide information generatingunit 118 may generate the throwing guide information suggesting the dartgame user to lower the speed of the dart pin. In addition, when themotion of the dart pin thrown by the dart game user is slower than thestandard dart speed, the throwing guide information generating unit 118may generate the throwing guide information suggesting the dart gameuser to raise the speed of the dart pin.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, thethrowing guide information generating unit 118 may analyze the footpressure information which is the information on the pressure applied bythe foot of the dart game user and generate the throwing guideinformation for the dart game user based on the analysis result.

The throwing guide information generating unit may analyze a dartthrowing habit of the dart game user based on at least one of the footshape information, the foot location information, and the detailed footpressure information of the dart game user.

Specifically, for example, the throwing guide information generatingunit may obtain foot pressure information generally possessed by aspecific dart game user when the dart pin reaches a specific score ofthe dart target 200. For example, the throwing guide informationgenerating unit may obtain the foot shape information, the foot locationinformation, and the detailed foot pressure information generallypossessed by the dart game user when a 20-point area out of the areas ofthe dart target 200 is hit.

As a result, when the dart game user throws the dart pin through aspecific foot shape, a specific foot location, and a specific detailedfoot pressure, the throwing guide information generating unit 118 mayobtain the area of the dart target 200, which has a high probabilitythat the dart pin will reach the corresponding area. For example, thethrowing guide information generating unit may calculate the area of thedart target 200, which has a high probability that the dart pin willreach the corresponding area when the dart game user throws the dart pinin the specific foot shape. Further, the throwing guide informationgenerating unit may calculate the area of the dart target 200 having ahigh probability that the dart pin will reach the corresponding areawhen the dart game user throws the dart pin through the specific footlocation and derive the area of the dart target 200, which has a highprobability that the dart pin will reach the corresponding area when thedart game user throws the dart pin through the specific detailed footpressure. Further, when the dart game user throws the dart pin through acombination of at least two or more of the specific foot shape, thespecific foot location, and the specific detailed foot pressure, thedart throwing guide information generating unit may calculate the areaof the dart target 200, which has a high probability that the dart pinwill reach the corresponding area. In this case, since the dart throwinghabit may vary depending on the dart game user, the area of the darttarget 200, which has a high probability that the dart pin will reachthe corresponding area may vary depending on the dart game user when thedart game user throws the dart pin through the specific foot shape, thespecific foot location, and the specific detailed foot pressure.

The throwing guide information generating unit 118 may generate thethrowing guide information including foot pressure recommendationinformation according to the dart throwing opportunity. For example, ina situation where the dart game user needs to hit a specific area of thedart target 200 with the dart pin, the throwing guide informationgenerating unit 118 may generate throwing guide information providingthe foot pressure recommendation information which facilitates hittingthe specific area with the dart pin. Specifically, for example, thethrowing guide information generating unit 118 may generate the throwingguide information including at least one of foot shape recommendationinformation, foot location recommendation information, and detailed footpressure recommendation information.

In another exemplary embodiment, the foot pressure recommendationinformation may include posture information for a preferable weightdistribution based on the posture of the user or weight distributioninformation of both feet recognized through the touch unit 2130. Forexample, the controller 110 may control the lesson image generating unit119 to generate a lesson image for inducing the posture for thepreferable weight distribution based on the weight distribution of bothfeet recognized.

According to another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, thethrowing guide information generating unit 118 may obtain standard footpressure information based on foot pressure information of a pluralityof users. For example, the throwing guide information generating unit118 may obtain the standard foot pressure information based on the footpressure information of a dart user having a specific ability or more(in this case, the dart ability may be identified by the PPD, the MPR,etc., but is not limited thereto).

In this case, the standard foot pressure information may include atleast one of standard foot shape information, standard foot locationinformation, and standard detailed foot pressure information.

The standard foot shape information means information related to shapesgenerally formed by feet of the dart game users when a plurality of dartusers throws the dart pins. For example, the standard foot shapeinformation may include information on the foot shape generally formedby the dart game user when the dart game user having the specificability or more throws the dart pin.

The standard foot location information means information related toareas where the feet of the dart game users are generally positionedwhen the plurality of dart users throws the dart pins. For example, thestandard foot location information may include information on an areawhere the foot of the dart game user is generally positioned when thedart game user having the specific skill or more throws the dart pin.

The standard detailed foot pressure information means detailedinformation regarding the pressure generally applied by the feet of thedart game users when the plurality of dart users throws the dart pins.For example, the standard detailed foot pressure information may includedetailed information on the pressure generally applied by the feet ofthe dart game users when a plurality of dart game users having thespecific skill or more throws the dart pins.

The throwing guide information generating unit 118 may generate thethrowing guide information including the foot pressure recommendationinformation. For example, the throwing guide information generating unit118 may generate the throwing guide information suggesting at least oneof the standard foot shape information, the standard foot locationinformation, and the standard detailed foot pressure information.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, thelesson image generating unit 119 may generate the lesson image based onthe generated throwing guide information.

The lesson image generating unit 119 may generate various lesson imagesbased on the generated throwing guide information. For example, thelesson image generating unit 119 may generate a first lesson imageincluding the throwing guide information generated by the throwing guideinformation generating unit 118.

For example, the lesson image generating unit 119 may generate the firstlesson image based on the throwing guide information. The first lessonimage may be associated with the virtual player participating in thedart game. Further, the first lesson image may be associated with atleast one of one or more virtual players which do not participate in thedart game, but are stored in the dart game apparatus 1000.

The first lesson image may include a description image of a dart pinthrowing posture based on the throwing guide information. For example,the first lesson image may include a description image of a dart speed,a description image of the foot shape when throwing the dart pin, adescription image of the foot location when throwing the dart pin, adescription image of the detailed foot pressure when throwing the dartpin, a description of a stance on the throw line of the dart gameperformed by the virtual player, a description image of how to hold thedart pin, a description image related to the posture of each part of ahuman body, such as a head, an arm, a hand, an elbow, or the like at thetime of aiming the dart pin by gripping the dart pin, a descriptionimage related to muscles to be used in an operation of throwing the dartpin, and a description image related to at least one of an operation ofmoving the dart pin forward and a release operation of releasing thedart pin so that the dart pin may fly forward, and the like.

As another example, the first lesson image may include at least one ofan image suggesting a recommended speed of the dart pin, an imageguiding that a faster movement speed than the movement speed of theexisting dart pin is required, an image guiding that a slower movementthan the movement speed of the existing dart pin is required, a dart pinrecommendation trajectory guidance image, a user customized foot shaperecommendation guidance image, a user customized foot locationrecommendation guidance image, a user customized detailed foot pressurerecommendation guidance image, a standard foot shape guidance image, astandard foot location guidance image, and a standard detailed footpressure guidance image.

A time at which the first lesson image is displayed may be set inadvance. For example, the first lesson image may be displayed at a timewhen the game mode is selected, a time within a predetermined time afterthe game mode is selected, a time before the game mode is selected andthe dart pin is thrown, a time of receiving a user's input of requestingthe lesson image, a time when the player stands by before the game, andthe like, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto.

The first lesson image may be displayed in a part or the entirety of thedisplay area 315. For example, the first lesson image may be displayedin a part of the lower left area in the display area 315. Further, thefirst lesson image may be displayed in a part of the lower right area inthe display area 315 and may be displayed in the entirety of the displayarea 315, but is not limited thereto.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, thelesson image generating unit may generate a second lesson image which isa compensation image for the hit locations of the dart pins.

The second lesson image may include an image that may be output when thereal player produces a result according to the lesson. For example, wheninaccuracy of the dart pin due to the throwing posture of the realplayer is corrected by the lesson, the second lesson image may beoutput. For example, the second lesson image may include a replay of thedart pin throwing of the real player, a comparison image of the throwingoperation with higher accuracy after the correction and the image of theprevious throwing, an image in which the virtual player appears andshouts nice or good meaning praising the real player or shouts cheermeaning congratulation while showing the replay and the comparisonimage, an image in which the virtual player shouts perfect indicatingthat the real player is perfect, or the like, but is not limitedthereto.

A time at which the second lesson image is displayed may be set inadvance. For example, the second lesson image may be displayed at thetime when one round ends, a time within a predetermined time after theend of one round, a time which a user's input is received after oneround ends, or when the throwing operation of the player is performedwithout deviating from one or more lines, but the present disclosure isnot limited thereto.

The display period of the second lesson image may be set in advance. Forexample, the display period of the second lesson image may be setbetween 0.8 seconds and 1.2 seconds in advance so as to prevent thelarge influence from being exerted on the progress time of the dartgame, but is not limited thereto.

The second lesson image may be displayed in a part or the entirety ofthe display area 315. For example, the second lesson image may bedisplayed in a part of the lower left area in the display area 315.Further, the second lesson image may be displayed in a part of the lowerright area in the display area 315 and may be displayed in the entiretyof the display area 315, but is not limited thereto.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, thelesson image generating unit 119 may generate a third lesson image whichis a consolation or reprimand image for the hit locations of the dartpins.

The third lesson image may be the image associated with the virtualplayer. For example, the third lesson image may be associated with thevirtual player participating in the dart game. Further, the third lessonimage may be associated with at least one of one or more virtual playerswhich do not participate in the dart game, but are stored in the dartgame apparatus 1000.

The third lesson image may include an image that may be output when theplayer fails to produce the result according to the lesson. For example,even if the lesson for the real player is performed by the dart gameapparatus 1000, the third lesson image may be output when the ability ofthe real player is not corrected.

For example, the third lesson image may include the replay of the dartpin throwing of the real player, a comparison image of the replay of thedart pin throwing and a correct throwing operation, a comparison imageof replay of the dart pin throwing and a correct dart pin movementspeed, a comparison image of a replay of the foot shape at the time ofthrowing the dart pin and a correct foot shape, a comparison image of areplay of the foot location at the time of throwing the dart pin and acorrect foot location, or a comparison image of a replay of the detailedfoot pressure at the time of throwing the dart pin and correct detailedfoot pressure, but is not limited thereto.

A time at which the third lesson image is displayed may be set inadvance. For example, the third lesson image may be displayed at thetime when one round ends, a time within a predetermined time after theend of one round, a time which a user's input is received after oneround ends, or when the throwing operation of the player is performedwithout deviating from one or more lines, but the present disclosure isnot limited thereto.

The display period of the third lesson image may be set in advance. Forexample, the display period of the third lesson image may be set between0.8 seconds and 1.2 seconds in advance so as to prevent the largeinfluence from being exerted on the progress time of the dart game, butis not limited thereto.

The third lesson image may be displayed in a part or the entirety of thedisplay area 315. For example, the third lesson image may be displayedin a part of the lower left area in the display area 315. Further, thethird lesson image may be displayed in a part of the lower right area inthe display area 315 and may be displayed in the entirety of the displayarea 315, but is not limited thereto.

FIG. 21 is a diagram illustrating a method for measuring foot pressureaccording to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

Referring to FIG. 21, the touch unit 2130 may include a plurality oflayers, and materials of the plurality of layers may be different. Forexample, a first layer a and a second layer c included in the touch unit2130 may be constructed by a film printed circuit board (PCB). Further,a conductive layer b may be included between the first layer a and thesecond layer c and the conductive layer may include a conductive film.

Referring to FIG. 21, the conductive layer is illustrated as one layerfor convenience of the disclosure, but the conductive layer may includethe plurality of layers and each of the plurality of layers may includethe conductive film.

When pressure is applied to the touch unit 2130, a resistance value of aportion to which the pressure is applied may be reduced and the pressureapplied by the reduced resistance value may be measured. For example, avoltage value applied to a resistance component according to a changedresistance value and the Ohm's law may be digitized by an analog todigital converter, and as a result, the applied pressure may bemeasured.

FIG. 22 is a diagram illustrating a method for measuring detailed footpressure according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, thetouch unit 2130 may be divided into a plurality of areas. Referring toFIG. 22, the touch unit 2130 may be divided into a plurality ofrectangular areas, but is not limited thereto and the touch unit 2130may be divided into a plurality of areas having various polygonalshapes.

In another exemplary embodiment, the touch unit 2130 may include aplurality of lines disposed in a direction parallel to the throw line.The plurality of lines may be configured to include the conductivepressure sensing member. Accordingly, the touch unit 2130 may measure adistribution value of the center of weight of the user when the userthrows the dart. For example, it is assumed that the user throws thedart while stepping on the touch unit 2130 including the plurality oflines with both feet. In this case, depending on the posture of the gameuser, different degrees of pressure loads are applied to both feet andrespective areas of both feet vertically downward. The plurality oflines of the touch unit 2130 may convert the corresponding pressure loadinto an electrical signal so as to allow the controller 110 to recognizethe posture and the weight distribution of the user in a dart throwingdirection.

When the dart game user throws the dart pin, the foot of the dart gameuser may apply the pressure to the touch unit 2130. In this case, thetouch unit 2130 may measure the pressures applied to the plurality ofrespective areas. For example, the touch unit 2130 may identify at leastone of the plurality of areas, to which the pressure is applied.

The touch unit 2130 may measure the degree of the pressure applied toeach of the areas to which the pressure is applied.

The touch unit 2130 may transmit measured information to the controller110 and the controller 110 may acquire the foot pressure informationbased on the received information. For example, the controller 110 mayacquire at least one of the foot shape information, the foot locationinformation, and the detailed foot pressure information. In this case,the controller 110 may acquire information on one foot and informationon both feet.

FIG. 23 is a diagram for describing a dart target according to anexemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

The dart target 200 may include a plurality of score areas. Referring toFIG. 21, in an aspect of the present disclosure, as the plurality ofscore areas, the double bull 410 and the single bull 420 having aconcentric shape, the small single unit 430 having the fan shape, whichare adjacent thereto, the triple ring 440 adjacent thereto, the largesingle 450 adjacent thereto, the doubling ring 460 adjacent thereto, andan outside area 470 at an outermost edge are positioned in accordancewith the distance from the center of the dart target.

FIG. 24 is a conceptual view of a game network including the dart gameapparatus according to the exemplary embodiment of the presentdisclosure.

As illustrated in FIG. 24, the dart game apparatus 1000 used by a firstgame player P1 may be connected with one or more servers (a media serverMS, a relay server RS, and a dart game server GS) through a network.

A plurality of dart game players may enjoy the dart game in the samespace at the same time using the same first dart game apparatus 1000.However, when a second dart game player P2 positioned at a remotedistant from the first dart game player P1 intends to participate in thedart game, the second dart game player P2 may perform the dart game bytransmitting/receiving information to/from the first dart game apparatus1000 in connection with one or more servers (the media server MS, therelay server RS, and the dart game server GS) through the network by asecond dart game apparatus 1000. The first dart game apparatus 1000 andthe second dart game apparatus may transmit and receive information viaone or more servers (the media server MS, the relay server RS, and thedart game server GS) or directly transmit/receive the informationbetween the dart game apparatuses.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the dartgame apparatus may provide the dart game match-up mode including atleast one player playing at a remote place via a communication unit.

The dart game may be performed in such a manner that both dart gameplayers P1 and P2 play the dart game at different places at the sametime or the dart game may be performed in such a manner that both dartgame players P1 and P2 play the dart game at different places atdifferent time and win or lose or a ranking is determined by storingplay contents in a DB server DB.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure,information related to the virtual player may be stored in the DBserver. Such information may include rating information (ranking andlevel) of the virtual player, dart game play image information,propensity information of the virtual player, profile information of thevirtual player, accuracy rate information of the virtual player, and thelike. The above description is only an example and information requiredfor implementing the virtual player may be stored in the DB server. Thepropensity information of the virtual player may mean a play mode of theplayer which plays a dart game such as “lack of persistence” and“weakness to tension”. The “lack of persistence” may mean a case wherethe accuracy rate of the virtual player is increased in the early partof the game and then decreased in the later part of the game. The“weakness to tension” may mean a case where the accuracy rate of thevirtual player is decreased at the moment of tension such as a reversalchance. The propensity information of the aforementioned virtual playeris just an example and may include a game play mode which may be shownby a dart game player.

The media server MS may store dart game play moving pictures of the dartgame players P1 and P2, which are stored by using the camera or themicrophone stored in the dart game apparatuses. The media server MS maybe included in the DB server DB.

The relay server RS connects communication between the plurality of dartgame apparatuses. The relay server RS forms a communication networkamong the plurality of dart game apparatuses positioned at the remoterange to form a peer-to-peer (P2P) network.

The game server GS may exchange information (a score acquired by eachgame player and information for mutual communication among therespective game players) between the dart game apparatuses, transmit anadvantage or a warning based on a game rule through the respective dartgame apparatuses, or in addition, perform transmission and reception ofinformation required to perform the dart game and controlling the dartgame apparatuses. The dart game server GS aggregates winning/losing ofthe dart game and scores of the respective dart game players to transmitthe aggregated winning/losing and scores to the DB server. Further,according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the dartgame server GS may select the virtual player which will constitute ateam with the player.

The DB server may store personal information of the respective dart gameplayers, winning/losing and ranking information of the game, scoreinformation for each game, or a replay moving picture for each game. TheDB server may store the information segmented for each user. The DBserver may grant a unique code to each user and manage information foreach user by using the unique code. The unique code may be stored in theRFID module (an RFID card or an RFID module stored in the mobileterminal) possessed by each user. As a result, the game apparatuses mayidentify each game player. The DB server may also grant the unique codefor identification even to the respective dart game apparatuses andmanage the dart game data for each identification code granted to thedart game apparatuses.

The game player may access a web server WS by using a mobile device(including electronic apparatuses such as a mobile terminal, a cellularphone, a PDA, a PDP, and the like, which have a mobile communicationfunction) or a PC. The web server WS may be connected with the mobiledevice by the Internet or Intranet. Further, the web server WS may beconnected even with the dart game apparatuses. The web server WS isconnected with the DB server DB to provide the dart game data stored inthe DB server to the dart game player.

Hereinafter, a representative rule of the dart game and stats of theplayer associated therewith will be described.

The dart game which may be executed by the dart game apparatus 1000according to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure mayinclude a 01 game (zero-one game), a cricket game, a count-up game, amatch-up mode, and the like.

The 01 game is performed by two teams (alternatively, two players)throwing the dart to the dart target alternately one by one round. Oneround includes three dart throwing motions. An object of the game isthat sum-up of scores in each round reaches a target score (a score ofthe unit of 100 or 1000 that generally ends with 01 point, such as 301,501, 701, 901, 1101, 1501 points, and the like). The target score and aplay round may be arbitrarily adjusted according to the number ofplayers that participate in the round.

In the cricket game, the round is performed by throwing three darts in afirst round similarly to the 01 game. The standard cricket game may beperformed by using only a bull area at the center of the dart target,and 20, 19, 18, 17, 16, and 15 point areas. When the correspondingcricket figures are hit with 3 marks, this is marked as a location ofthe player and when the corresponding cricket figures are hit with 4marks or more, scores corresponding to the figures are added up tocompete the scores. Herein, the double area and the triple area of thedart target may be calculated with 2 marks and 3 marks, respectively.While the corresponding cricket figure is marked as the location of theplayer, when a counterpart of the player also marks 3 as cricket figure,the corresponding cricket figure is regarded to be closed and no scoremay be added any longer. The object of the game may be set to acquire ahigh score until a regulation round ends or close all cricket figuresand obtain a higher score than the counterpart.

The count-up game is a game at which the player wins when acquiring ahigh score within a predetermined round.

In addition to the aforementioned games, various types of games may beplayed by the dart game apparatus 1000 and the play mode of the dartgame apparatus 1000 is not limited by the aforementioned game schemes.

The stats of the player may be defined according to the correspondinggame rule independently from the winning or losing of the count-up game,the cricket game, and the 01 game.

For example, points per dart (PPD) may be calculated by dividing a totalscore which the player earns by the number of dart throwing times in the01 game.

Alternatively, marks per round (MPR) may be calculated by calculatingthe number of marking times of the player in one round. For example, inthe cricket game, when the player performs three dart throwing motionsin one round and the darts hit 15 triple, 19 single, and 20 double bullin the three dart throwing motions, respectively, the MPR becomes(3+1+2)/1=6.00 (MPR).

In a subsequent round, when the player performs three dart throwingmotions and the darts hit mark fail, 18 double, and 20 bull in the threedart throwing motions, the MPR becomes (3+1+2+0+2+1)/2=4.5 (MPR).

The PPD and the MPR as the stats of the player may also be stored aspersonal data of the player. Alternatively, in the count-up game, anaverage score of the player per game, a highest score record of theplayer per game, and the like may be stored as the stats of the player.

The dart game apparatus 1000 may play the dart game according to thecorresponding mode and transmit a game record per player to the gameserver GS or the DB server DB. The game server GS or the DB server DBmay calculate the PPD and/or MPR for each player according to thecorresponding game record and store the calculated PPD and/or MPR asaccumulated PPD and/or MPR stats of the player. Further, the game serverGS or the DB server DB may individually store the game record of theplayer. For example, in the 01 game, the count-up game, or the cricketgame which the player played in the past, the player may recordinformation on a segment part of a dart which the player hits by eachdart throw. The game server GS or DB server DB may store accumulated(average) PPD and/or MPR data and highest PPD and/or MPR data of theplayer.

The game server GS or the DB server DB may be two physically separatedservers. Alternatively, the game server GS or the DB server DB may beone physically integrated server and be distinguished according to rolesperformed in the server. Further, as described above, one server mayserve as both the game server GS and the DB server DB.

The game server GS or the DB server DB may store personal stats of theplayer and rating (alternatively, grade) may be granted to the playeraccording to the corresponding stats.

FIG. 25 is a diagram for describing a dart booth according to theexemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

According to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, thedart game system 10000 may include a body 1000 of the dart gameapparatus, a dart booth 2000, and a dart game assistant apparatus 3000.The dart booth 2000 may include all of the dart plate 2100, the uppercover 2300, and a side cover 2200. In this case, the side cover 2200 mayextend from at least one side of the dart game apparatus in the oppositedirection to the dart target.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, anillumination unit and a sound unit may be installed in the body of thedart game apparatus and in a part or the entirety of the dart plate2100, the upper cover 2300, and the side cover 2200.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, at leastone of the illumination unit and the sound unit installed in the dartgame apparatus 1000 and at least one of the illumination unit and thesound unit installed in the dart booth 2000 may interlock with eachother in real time or in non-real time.

For example, with occurrence of a specific event, the illumination unitinstalled in the dart game apparatus 1000, the illumination unitinstalled in the dart plate 2100, the illumination unit installed in theside cover unit 2200, and the like may flicker with the same color(e.g., blue, etc.) and the sound units installed in the dart gameapparatus 1000, the dart plate 2100, and the side cover 2200 maygenerate the same sound (e.g., a buzzer sound, etc.).

According to another example, with the occurrence of the specific event,the illumination unit installed in the dart game apparatus 1000, theillumination unit installed in the dart plate 2100, the illuminationunit installed in the side cover unit 2200, and the like may flickerwith different colors and the sound units installed in the dart gameapparatus 1000, the dart plate 2100, and the side cover 2200 maygenerate different sounds.

FIG. 26 is a diagram for describing another event effect which may beoutput from the dart game apparatus according to the exemplaryembodiment of the present disclosure.

According to the exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure, it isassumed that a first player (e.g., ‘CAT) and a second player (e.g.,‘TIGER’) which play the dart game exist. The display area 315 mayinclude a first area displaying score information of the first playerand a second area displaying the score information of the second player.For example, the first area displaying the score information of thefirst player may display ’55 which is the score information of ‘CAT’which is the first player and the second area displaying the scoreinformation of the second player may display ‘53’ which is the scoreinformation of ‘TIGER’ which is the second player.

More specifically, it is assumed that the dart pin thrown by ‘TIGER’which is the second player is accommodated in an area of 4 points of thedart target. The sensing unit 160 may sense the hit location of the dartpin thrown to the area of 4 points of the dart target and the controller110 may determine the score information of two or more players based onthe hit location of the dart pin thrown to the area of 4 points by thesensing unit. For example, the controller 110 may determine ‘53’ whichis the score information of the second player as ‘57’ based on the hitlocation of the dart pin of the area of 4 points, which is thrown by‘TIGER’ which is the second player. Further, the controller 110 maycompare the score information of two or more players with each other.For example, the controller 110 compares the score information ‘55’ of‘CAT’ which is the first player with the score information ‘57’ of‘TIGER’ which is the second player with each other to determine that thescore information of the second player is dominant.

The display area 315 may output the event effect determined based on aresult of comparing the score information with each other. For example,the result of comparing the score information with each other mayinclude the tie, the dominance, the reversal, a chase, and the like butthe comparison result is not limited thereto. Further, the event effectmay include various visual effects, auditory effects, tactile effects,and olfactory effects and is not limited thereto.

The display area 315 may display the event effect in one of the firstarea and the second area. For example, when the score of the firstplayer and the score of the second player are tied with each other bythe dart thrown by the first player, the display area 315 may output theevent effect ‘tie!!!’ to the first area. However, the event effect isnot limited thereto and the display area 315 may output various eventeffects to the second area or output the various event effects to boththe first area and the second area.

In the exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure, the controller110 compares the score information of two or more players with eachother to select a reversal event effect when the dominance of the scoreinformation of the first player and the score information of the secondplayer is changed. When the reversal event effect is selected by thecontroller, the display area 315 may output the selected reversal eventeffect. For example, when ‘TIGER’ which is the second player acquires 4points and the score information of the second player becomes thus ‘57’,the controller 110 may compare the score information ‘55’ of ‘CAT’ whichis the first player and the score information ‘57’ of ‘TIGER’ which isthe second player. Therefore, the controller 110 may select the reversalevent effect because the score information of ‘TIGER’ which is thesecond player is changed to be dominant. Therefore, the display area 315may output the selected reversal event effect to the second area.However, the event effect is not limited thereto and various reversalevent effects may be output to the first area or both the first area andthe second area.

According to the exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure, whichinclude the steps, it is assumed that ‘PLAYER2’ which is the secondplayer throws the dart to the hit location of DOUBLE 4 to acquire 8points.

Since the score information of ‘PLAYER1’ which is the first player is‘60’ and the score information of ‘PLAYER2’ which is the second playeris ‘60’, the score information of ‘PLAYER2’ which is the second playerbecomes ‘68’ by the acquired 8 points to be changed to be dominant. Inthis case, the reversal event effect may be output to the second area.For example, the reversal event effect ‘reversal’ may be output next to‘PLAYER2’. However, the event effect is not limited thereto and thereversal event effect may be output to the first area. Further, the sameor different reversal event effects may be output to both the first areaand the second area.

Although not illustrated, on the contrary, when the score information of‘PLAYER1’ which is the first player is changed to be dominant, thereversal event effect may be output to the first area. For example, thereversal event effect ‘reversal’ may be output next to ‘PLAYER2’.However, the event effect is not limited thereto and the reversal eventeffect may be output to the first area. Further, the same or differentreversal event effects may be output to both the first area and thesecond area.

FIG. 27 is a diagram for describing a location of a target illuminationunit according to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

Referring to FIG. 27, the target illumination unit 500 may be at leastpartially in contact with one surface of the cover 130 to irradiatelight toward at least one portion of the dart target 200 and theperiphery of the dart target 200.

Referring to FIG. 27, a surface of the cover 130 facing the throw lineis referred to as a first surface 1310 and a surface facing the dartgame apparatus 1000 is referred to as a second surface 1320.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, thetarget illumination unit 500 may be at least partially in contact with aperiphery 1311 of the hole provided in the cover 130 on the firstsurface 1310 of the cover 130. Further, the target illumination unit 500may be at least partially in contact with a periphery 1321 of the holeprovided in the cover 130 on the second surface 1320 of the cover 130.According to another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, thetarget illumination unit 500 may be at least partially in contact withan inner surface 1330 of the hole provided in the cover 130. Further,according to another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, thetarget illumination unit 500 may be positioned between the cover 130 andthe dart game apparatus 1000.

In this case, the target illumination unit 500 may be in contact withthe cover 130 and may be attached to the cover 130.

It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the presentdisclosure may be implemented in combination with other program modulesand/or as a combination of hardware and software. For example, thepresent disclosure may be implemented by a computer readable medium.

Media accessible by the computer may be computer readable mediaregardless of types thereof and the computer readable media includevolatile and non-volatile media, transitory and non-transitory media,and mobile and non-mobile media. As an example rather than a limit, thecomputer readable media may include both computer readable storage mediaand computer readable transmission media.

The computer readable storage media include volatile and non-volatile,temporary or non-temporary, and movable and non-movable mediaimplemented by a predetermined method or technology for storinginformation such as a computer readable command, a data structure, aprogram module, or other data. The computer readable storage mediainclude a RAM, a ROM, an EEPROM, a flash memory or other memorytechnologies, a CD-ROM, a digital video disk (DVD) or other optical diskstorage devices, a magnetic cassette, a magnetic tape, a magnetic diskstorage device or other magnetic storage devices or predetermined othermedia which may be accessed by the computer or may be used to storedesired information, but are not limited thereto.

The computer readable transmission media generally implement thecomputer readable command, the data structure, the program module, orother data in a carrier wave or a modulated data signal such as othertransport mechanism and include all information transfer media. The term“modulated data signal” means a signal acquired by configuring orchanging at least one of characteristics of the signal so as to encodeinformation in the signal. As an example rather than a limit, thecomputer readable transmission media include wired media such as a wirednetwork or a direct-wired connection and wireless media such asacoustic, RF, infrared and other wireless media. A combination ofanymedia among the aforementioned media is also included in a range ofthe computer readable transmission media.

Those skilled in the art of the present disclosure will appreciate thatvarious exemplary logic blocks, modules, processors, means, circuits,and algorithm steps described in association with the embodimentsdisclosed herein can be implemented by electronic hardware, varioustypes of programs or design codes (designated as “software” herein foreasy description), or a combination of all thereof. In order to clearlydescribe the intercompatibility of the hardware and the software,various exemplary components, blocks, modules, circuits, and steps havebeen generally described above in association with functions thereof.Whether the functions are implemented as the hardware or softwaredepends on design restrictions given to a specific application and anentire system. Those skilled in the art of the present disclosure mayimplement functions described by various methods with respect to eachspecific application, but it should not be analyzed that theimplementation determination departs from the scope of the presentdisclosure.

Various exemplary embodiments presented herein may be implemented asmanufactured articles using a method, an apparatus, or a standardprogramming and/or engineering technique. The term “manufacturedarticle” includes a computer program, a carrier, or a medium which isaccessible by a predetermined computer-readable device. For example, acomputer-readable storage medium includes a magnetic storage device (forexample, a hard disk, a floppy disk, a magnetic strip, or the like), anoptical disk (for example, a CD, a DVD, or the like), a smart card, anda flash memory device (for example, an EEPROM, a card, a stick, a keydrive, or the like), but is not limited thereto. The term“machine-readable media” includes a wireless channel and various othermedia that can store, posses, and/or transfer command(s) and/or data,but are not limited thereto.

It will be appreciated that a specific order or a hierarchical structureof steps in the presented processes is one example of exemplaryaccesses. It will be appreciated that the specific order or thehierarchical structure of the steps in the processes within the scope ofthe present disclosure may be rearranged based on design priorities.Appended method claims provide elements of various steps in a sampleorder, but it does not mean that the method claims are limited to thepresented specific order or hierarchical structure.

The description of the presented exemplary embodiments is provided sothat those skilled in the art of the present disclosure use or implementthe present disclosure. Various modifications of the exemplaryembodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art and generalprinciples defined herein can be applied to other exemplary embodimentswithout departing from the scope of the present disclosure. Therefore,the present disclosure is not limited to the exemplary embodimentspresented herein, but should be analyzed within the widest range whichis coherent with the principles and new features presented herein.

MODE FOR INVENTION

Related contents in the best mode for carrying out the presentdisclosure are described as above.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

The present disclosure may be used in a digital device, a dart device, adart game device, an entertainment device, and the like.

1. A dart game system comprising: a dart game apparatus comprising: adart target configured to receive a dart pin, the dart target having asensor configured to sense a hit of a thrown dart pin; a first imageprojector positioned outside the dart game apparatus and configured toproject an image; a body structure including a display, the displayformed to surround an exterior of the dart target and configured toreceive an image projected from the first image projector, and the bodystructure configured to output the image projected from the first imageprojector to be viewed by a user and output the image generated in thedisplay to be viewed by the user; and a processor configured to controla process of the dart game apparatus; and a dart game assistantapparatus which is positioned outside the dart game apparatus andconfigured to communicate with the dart game apparatus, the dart gameassistant apparatus including a user interface configured to outputinformation related to execution of a dart game and receive an inputfrom the user.
 2. The dart game system of claim 1, wherein the dart gameassistant apparatus further includes: an audio output unit configured tooutput audio information related to the execution of the dart game, auser recognition unit configured to receive identification informationof the user from a user device or the user, and a storage configured tostore a bill or a coin for performing the dart game.
 3. The dart gamesystem of claim 1, wherein the display of the body structure has a shapein which a distance from a virtual surface extending from a throw lineupward decreases from a center to a distal portion.
 4. The dart gamesystem of claim 1, wherein the dart game assistant apparatus furtherincludes a second image projector configured to protect an image in atleast one direction of a dart target direction and a display directionof the dart target.
 5. The dart game system of claim 1, furthercomprising a dart plate connected with the dart game apparatus andextending along a ground in an opposite direction to the dart target. 6.The dart game system of claim 5, wherein the processor is furtherconfigured to determine whether the user intends to throw the dart pindepending on whether to touch a touch unit disposed in a part of thedart plate.
 7. The dart game system of claim 5, wherein the dart platefurther includes: a throw-line illuminator configured to display thethrow line which is a reference line for throwing the dart pin by theuser, and a dart plate side illuminator formed along at least one sideand configured to display a boundary line of the dart plate.
 8. The dartgame system of claim 7, wherein the touch unit configured by aconductive pressure sensing member is formed adjacent to at least a partof the throw-line illuminator of the dart plate, and the processor isfurther configured to determine whether the user intends to throw thedart pin depending on whether to touch the touch unit disposed in a partof the dart plate.
 9. The dart game system of claim 5, furthercomprising a dart plate input unit formed on at least a part of the dartplace and configured to receive an input related to the execution of thedart game from the user, wherein the processor is further configured tocontrol the process of the dart game based on the input from the dartplate input unit.
 10. The dart game system of claim 9, wherein theprocessor is further configured to adjust information which may be inputby the user interface partially based on at least one of identificationinformation of the user and pre-stored user designation information. 11.The dart game system of claim 9, wherein the processor is furtherconfigured to adjust information which may be input by the dart plateinput unit partially based on at least one of identification informationof the user and pre-stored user designation information.
 12. The dartgame system of claim 9, wherein the dart plate input unit includes aplurality of input areas including a leftward input area, a rightwardinput area, an upward input area, a downward input area, a selectioninput area, and a cancellation input area.
 13. The dart game system ofclaim 12, wherein the dart plate input unit in the dart plate is formedat a location closer to the dart target than the throw-line illuminatorin the dart plate.
 14. The dart game system of claim 9, wherein the dartplate input unit is configured by a conductive pressure sensing member,and when the user applies force to at least a part of the dart plateinput unit, resistance of the conductive pressure sensing member ischanged.
 15. The dart game system of claim 14, wherein the conductivepressure sensing member is configured by at least one of a pressuresensing conductive film and a pressure sensing conductive cloth.
 16. Thedart game system of claim 1, wherein the dart game assistant apparatusis connected with the dart game apparatus and is fixedly disposed on theground while being spaced apart from the dart plate extending along theground in the opposite direction to the dart target by a predetermineddistance.
 17. The dart game system of claim 1, further comprising a sidecover extending from at least one side of the dart game apparatus in theopposite direction to the dart target, wherein the dart game assistantapparatus is fixedly disposed on the ground while being spaced apartfrom the dart game apparatus in the opposite direction to the darttarget by a predetermined distance.
 18. The dart game system of claim 1,further comprising a holding unit having a shape to receive an object ofthe user is formed on the other part of the upper surface of the dartgame assistant apparatus, wherein the user interface is positioned on atleast a part of an upper surface of the dart game assistant apparatus.19. The dart game system of claim 18, wherein the dart game assistantapparatus further includes: a support member configured to support atleast one of an area on the upper surface of the dart game assistantapparatus where the user interface is positioned and an area where theholding unit is positioned from the ground, and an audio output unitinstalled at a part of the support member toward the outside.
 20. Thedart game system of claim 18, wherein the dart game assistant apparatusfurther includes an external camera configured to photograph whether theuser throws the dart pin over the throw line.